COMPETITION

Design x Design in association with Ant Studio, has recently launched an international online design competition entitled ‘ Mobitecture– habitat on the move’. The primary aim behind this endeavour of

Design x Design is to encourage architects, students, professional designers and all creative thinkers globally; to put their innovative acumens at a test and concoct a layout which functions as a first step towards building our utopian world. “Humans are nomadic by instinct. In the broader evolution of humankind through time, the notion of settling down to make home and hearth, is relatively a recent phenomenon which has created more problems than solved for the species. Designing a mobile habitat or a habitat on the move is an avante- garde way to allow individuals of all professions to explore the built environment of the future,” said Iftikar Mulk Chishti – principal of Studio IF and convenor of Design x Design.

Along with proposing deployable residential modules, the brief of this international competition also entails an aspect of sustainability. The designed entries must cater to the immediate requisites of the environment, thus imbibing an eco- friendly approach. “To live in harmony with other forms of life on earth; and with nature as a whole should have come naturally to us, but that has not been the case,” said Monish Siripurapu, principal architect of Ant Studio.

Launched in October 2020, the registrations have been now declared open for participants. The early bird registrations will remain open till the end of this month, while the standard registrations will be accepted till November 30. A final round of late registrations will be operable till December 15, which will also mark the last date for submitting all entries by participants. Individuals from all across the world; irrespective of their gender, creed, nationality or profession may participate singularly or in groups of three. The design brief, regulations and terms and conditions are available at their website, in downloadable PDF formats. The esteemed panel of Jury, housing noted designers from all over the world, has been released on their website including James Law ( James Law Cybertecture), Janet Salem ( UNEP), Alireza Taghaboni ( Studio Next), Iftikar Mulk Chishti ( Studio IF) and Monish Siripurapu ( Ant Studio).

The winner will be awarded with a cash prize amounting to 1,00,000 INR, followed by 60,000 INR for the First Runner Up and 40,000 INR for the Second Runner Up. All the above awards will be accompanied with a certificate from Design x Design and Ant Studio. Apart from this, the work of seven honourable will be published on the official website of Design x Design and awarded with certificates.