IAB Build Expo 2023

Demand for eco-friendly construction materials going up

Once upon a time, people were unaware about the concept of green construction which refers to sustainable building or other establishments. Now a remarkable change is noticed in the construction sector of the country, thanks to local entrepreneurs, traders, and architects. Nowadays, the demand for environment-friendly construction materials including blocks and ceramic products is going up significantly.

New technology and modern solutions have brought a remarkable change in the sector. To bring all new construction materials and solutions under an umbrella, Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) organised the country’s biggest building material exposition titled “IAB Building Material and Technology Exposition 2023” (IAB Build-Expo 2023) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka on 7-10 November 2023.

The IAB Expo was a unique platform for the companies to showcase products and solutions to national and international stakeholders. A lot of people including realtors and architects thronged to different construction materials stalls at the expo. Some 332 stalls including 21 foreign brands were there to display different construction materials and solutions. Visiting different stalls of ceramic products including RAK, Sheltech, DBL, Stella, and Eco Ceramics in the expo, many visitors were seen to gather there, and collecting information about the latest ceramic products. Exhibitors said that they were happy to get more visitors as their products were displayed to them. Many architects observed that such exhibition helped them to know about the latest construction materials and solutions which would bring a positive development in the construction sector as they are playing a key role in the sector.

Focusing on green construction

Both users and architects are now leaning towards green construction because of consciousness about environment and increasing purchasing capacity as well as lifestyle change. Visiting the expo, founder of Srishty Architect & Consultancy Tasnim Kabir Turji said that she saw products to compare those. “I tried to find out what type of materials could be used in my construction projects. In a short time, we could see many materials so I visited the expo. I searched for eco-friendly materials roaming at different stalls. Bangladeshi architects are performing well in the globe. We the architects always want to use the materials which are sustainable, and saving energy,” Ms Tasnim also said. Maxcrete Limited’s Assistant General Manager Engineer Abu Mohammad Samsuddin said they were displaying their innovative eco-friendly bricks in the expo which would be brought commercially in the market soon. “Our company decided to bring eco-friendly blocks to the market in view of increasing its demand. Sand, cement, gypsum, limestone and water are used to make our products. This product is light weight, durable and 20 per cent low cost compared to fired-bricks,” he added. The Eco Ceramics’ head of sales and marketing Md Alomgir Hossain said they displayed many types of bricks including ecocil solid brick, holo brick, and hollow brick. Each clay-made brick price is Tk 2 — Tk 5 higher compared to fired brick. But their product is lightweight and durable. RAK Ceramics (BD) Ltd’s Assistant Manager (sales and marketing) Mohammad Azaz Haidar said they displayed floor and wall tiles as well as kitchen and bathroom fittings in the expo to attract customers. Golam Rahman Anik, Senior Manager (sales) of DBL Ceramics said they brought some new products to the expo. Of them, seven types of floor and three types of wall tiles. They received huge visitors in the expo. Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rupayan Housing Estate Limited (RHEL) Md Alinur Rahman said, he visited the expo to scrutinise different types of construction materials. Such expo is good for all stakeholders as they could know about the products prices, quality and latest products of the market. “Once, we were dependent on foreign products, now many local companies are manufacturing good quality products.

Architects are the key players: IAB Build-Expo-2023 Chairman

The Expo Chairman, and also IAB Assistant General Secretary, Architect Dr. M Masud Ur Rashid said architects are key players in building construction. They have to design buildings and work in creative places. “Our main goal behind arranging such exhibition is to introduce the new technology and construction material to architects as there are a lot of architects in the country. As a result, they can learn much more and see what type of technology and construction materials come to the market under an umbrella every year. We noticed a presence of a lot of architects and other stakeholders in the four-day expo,” he said. “We have been arranging such expo for the last around 20 years. But many years, it remained suspended. From 2019, we have been organising the Build Expo. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, we could not arrange it in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, we arranged it successfully and in 2023, it is the third time of the large expo.” Many new technologies and materials as well as new solutions came in this year’s expo compared to previous exhibition. The demand for architects went up as different projects and construction increased in the country. 40 per cent foreign brands took part in the expo as many people purchased foreign products. But they want local material development. Such expo will help to share knowledge and technology as well. Even many construction materials were invented abroad but now these are assembled in Bangladesh.

Self-sufficient in civil materials

In civil materials including brick, cement, rod and ceramic, Bangladesh is now self-sufficient, thanks to local entrepreneurs. Even local materials are being updated. Once, people used fired bricks, now environment-friendly blocks are being used in different constructions. Once fired-brick may not be there in the country. It is the development here. But Bangladesh is more dependent on foreign fittings yet. Even though, many local companies are manufacturing those. Some building owners want to use foreign fittings in their construction. So, architects have to work in the interest of owners. Now Bangladeshi companies are manufacturing good products. However, the future plan is to arrange expo every year so that architects can gain knowledge on technology development. They also want to promote local construction companies and hope that it will keep positive footsteps in construction development of the country.

Written by Rafik Hasan