WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY 2015 -16

1. Introduction / Background The term Revolution comes with the meaning of turning back to a certain kind of past and investing into a vision believing in a future that does not exist. On the other hand, the term Evolution in the Darwinian sense is indicative of irreversible patterns arising from the mutation of species as they face the effects and challenges of time. Both the terms point towards changes and transformations. Transformations hint at violence and destruction, as well as, weeding out the unwanted, useless, superficial, and impractical and so forth to effect the phenomenal world and community. Imagining a future can also mean distancing from the present and the factual. If the Bauhaus ‘turned its back’ on the past as it were the next generations went into rediscovering the values that were eroded through internationalism. The tussle continues. On the one hand the science tells us that water on the planet Mars can be tapped while the deep within the humans know how much they have ruined the planet earth through ignorance and by wasting natural resources. Architecture and planning, unlike writing poetry and making paintings, leave a deep effect, often irreversible, on the ecology of this planet and the equity of opportunity for all humans.

The humans are bounded by an unwritten code that modifies itself circumstantially from time to time in order they are able to survive and inhabit as a society that shares the resources and rejoice in opportunities albeit with responsibility connecting the self and the community. There have been revolutions of many kinds when freedom and values are interpreted diversely, rebellions against the hegemony of a few in power, agrarian and green revolutions and of course as how architecture is envisioned. It would be important to recognise the false as false in order to comprehend what is most appropriate and least invasive action in the times we live in. Architecture is neither visual nor spatial extravaganza of forms alone but it serves as a gateway to wisdom. It can bring great delight as much as it can leave terrible scars.

The essay competition aims at an energetic debate on the issue of revolution and evolution as these are understood by competitors. In view of this apparent duality of perceptions it would be possible to identify and critically re-examine theories which

National Association of Students of Architecture Writing Architecture Trophy 2015 - 16 (Re)evolution

WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY 2015 -16

have contributed to thinking and shaping architecture as they manifest in the works of architecture currently anywhere in the world. The focus may either be on cities, and architecture of urbanity or even that of the indigenous communities for making a studied argument.

Binding Rules of Competition: 1. Every college can send in a maximum of five entries. 2. A maximum number of 3 clearly identified students can work on each entry. 3. The entry should be submitted in the format specified so that the identity of the

team members, the team or the institution they belong is not revealed to the judges.

4. No visuals should accompany the essay. Judgement Criteria 1. The strength and quality of the related argument. 2. Soundness of research 3. Quality of writing 4. Overall relevance and quality of the essay Submission Format 1. The entry code shall be of the form NASA:WAT:COLLEGE CODE:01 –FOR ENTRY NO

1. Similarly for entry no 2 from a college the code would be NASA:WAT:COLLEGE CODE:02s

2. Soft copy is to be sent by email on writingarchitecture2015@gmail.com.

3. The entry should be accompanied by a letter from the HOD/ Principal on the college letterhead with the name(s) of the authors and the institution.

4. Margins: 10mm on top,bottom and right;15mm on the left.

5. Font: SansSeriffont,fontsize12, 1.5 spacing between the lines

6. NASA logo shall be at bottom right of all the pages of the entry in accordance with the NASA logo guidelines.

7. The author(s) will give a written declaration stating that the work is the original intellectual property of the respective author and will be solely responsible and

National Association of Students of Architecture Writing Architecture Trophy 2015 - 16 (Re)evolution

WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY 2015 -16

liable in case the work has violated any copyrighted material, and if any matter is sourced from anywhere,due acknowledgement has to be given.

8. All entries will be the property of NASA INDIA, which will be free to utilize the same in any manner at anytime,during or after the NASA WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY competition period,and the original author will have no claim on the same after the entry is sent for the said competition.

1. Dates and schedule 1. Last date of submission: 5:00pm, 25th December, 2015

2. Last date to raise queries:7th November, 2015

National Association of Students of Architecture Writing Architecture Trophy 2015 - 16 (Re)evolution