Pune: Ferrocement is emerging as a future-ready material for sustainable and affordable construction, but experts have emphasized that deeper research, experimentation, and validation are necessary to unlock its full potential.
The discussions took place at the International Conference 2025 on the “Art, Science & Technology of Ferrocement Construction,” jointly organized by MKSSS’s Dr Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture for Women (BNCA), Pune, and the Ferrocement Society (India), with support from AESA-Pune.
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Ferrocement in Focus at International Conference
The two-day event in Pune brought together academicians, researchers, engineers, and architects from India and abroad, including participants from Bangladesh, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The theme centered on the art, science, and technology of ferrocement, with sessions featuring keynote addresses, technical papers, and discussions on applications in both civil and architectural engineering.
A key highlight of the conference was the unveiling of the cover page of an upcoming COA-BNCA publication dedicated to ferrocement research.
In his keynote address, Prof Ar Abhay Purohit, President, Council of Architecture (COA), noted that ferrocement offers significant economic and environmental advantages aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, he cautioned that the material remains underexplored and requires rigorous experimentation to achieve mainstream adoption in construction.
Other speakers, including Er. P P Lele, President of the Ferrocement Society (India), and Jayant Inamdar of MKSSS, highlighted the material’s applications in water storage, check dams, and infrastructure projects where it reduces costs while improving longevity. International experts from Italy, the UK, Bangladesh, and the US presented successful case studies showcasing the material’s strength, lightweight properties, and design flexibility.
A major announcement came from Prof. Purohit, who confirmed that ferrocement technology will be introduced into architecture curriculum in line with the National Education Policy (NEP).
He also revealed that the Council of Architecture is setting up a Centre of Excellence at its upcoming Bangalore campus, which will focus on advanced research in this material and other innovative materials, supported by digital tools and artificial intelligence.
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The conference concluded with optimism, as participants agreed that the material is positioned to play a transformative role in shaping sustainable, resilient, and cost-effective construction globally.
