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THE DESIGN OF A SUSTAINABLE HABITABLE RESIDENCE IN THREE SCENARIOS 1. Background of the Brief: During the last few decades many of us have become aware of how unsustainable our present growth and development models have been. The rapid increase in this awareness has been a universal phenomenon. All round efforts are being made to reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources, and increase the use of the renewable ones. However, the consumption levels of resources in developed nations, as well as in rapidly developing nations have reached such heights that the efforts merely to maximise the savings in the present rate of consumptions are not likely to be enough to counter the rapidity with which the earth’s resources are being depleted. A majority of the approaches evolved by the “Think tanks” of different nations are constrained by the unwillingness of its peoples to alter their respective lifestyles significantly. The emerging architecture, consequently, remains constrained in evolving ‘Out of the Box’ solutions. It is, therefore, essential to explore an avenue to achieve high sustainability levels in the growth and development models of the emerging settlements, towns and cities with minimum constraints. Architecture and other Design professions are service driven professions and have a responsibility to the Society.
Consequently, the brief for this competition requires the competitors to retract their steps in history to the beginning of the last century, and restart their journeys on the paths of greater sustainability in the evolution of their designs.
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2. Assumptions required to be made for the Design of a habitable Residence: The period is early 21 st century. • All areas of the settlements, towns & cities other than the historic settlements of more than 100 years old, have been destroyed in natural / manmade calamities in the last decade. • Only 50% of the population of the settlement has survived, of which 60% have lost their homes as well as other belongings. • All the instruments of industrial productions have been destroyed in the country of the Competitor. • Consequently all new development cannot depend on any industrially produced building materials, technologies or processes. • Some of the debris of the destruction have survived, and can be reused for the new developments. • The new developments have to accommodate all the homeless population, provide them with facilities for health, education, employment opportunities etc. • The new developments also have to provide for the anticipated migration from the nearby areas. • All those who have survived are aware that destruction has been caused by human being’s quest to conquer nature at any cost, and evolving methodologies/technologies for growth and development designed to increase ‘power’ through accumulation of ‘wealth’. • They are also aware that these approaches and role models have led to the present destruction all around them.
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• They have collectively decided to implement the lessons learnt from the failure of the industrial model of growth and market driven economic development so that the same errors are not repeated. • New role models for all-round human and community growth & development covering the all encompassing aspects of health, education, agriculture, shelter etc. need to be thought of, and evolved responsibly. • Buildings, neighbourhoods and towns have to reflect the revised, more responsible aspirations of a society, which is determined not to repeat its past errors of a century and a half. • They have then come to the Competitor as a responsible professional. 3. The Locations / Land Parcel Brief : 1. The location at Macro level: • The location of the design project is within any settlement that has existed for about 100 years, prior to the start of 20th century anywhere in the world. 2. The Location at Micro level: • The Land Parcel A (not exceeding 300 sqmts in any shape and size) is located within the historic part of the settlement / town / city and Land Parcel B (not exceeding 500sqmts. in any shape and size) is located immediately on the fringe of the historic part of the settlement and Land Parcel C (not exceeding 1000sqmts. in any shape and size) is located in the area of newer development. • Adjacent conditions to be assumed by the competitor and must reflect in all drawings. • The Competitor can make any other assumption he/she sees be fitting to make. 4. T he Design Brief for a sustainable, habitable Residence in Three different situations: • The Competitor has to design a residence in three situations for the 21 st century to accommodate three generations of a joint family, with 21 st century aspirations in the scenario after having witnessed and survived the natural / manmade calamities. • Choice of materials, technologies, methodologies and construction processes is left entirely to the Competitor. 5. The evaluation criteria: • The Primary evaluation criteria will be the demonstrations of holistic and in depth understanding of what constitutes and comprises sustainable development and the innovations brought into the designs at all levels, in the holistic and wholesome responsible growth of the emerging settlements, towns and cities.
Parul Zaveri and Nimesh Patel SUBMISSION FORMAT: Design Concept / description: MS Word / PDF Design Proposal / graphic: High resolution PDF ( 24”x 36”)
JUDGING CRITERIA : The winner will be selected solely at the discretion of the invited Master. The decision of the Master will be final.
PRIZE MONEY RS. 25,000/Send your entries to: iabedt@jasubhai.com Last date of submission of entries: 31 st Dec’ 2010 To participate online, log on to www.aecworldxp.com