ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITIONS

Architectural competitions are an important avenue to encourage

talent to come on the front.
The main purpose of holding an architectural competition is to give
the promoter of competition, the choice of the best available design
selected on the basis of jury's expert knowledge while giving the
participants a fair deal.
The Indian Institute of Architects as well as the Council of
Architecture has formulated guidelines for the conduct of such
competitions.
ITS PURPOSE:
Competition brings out a wide range of ideas and concepts and gives
the promoter the choice of selecting that which fits into his specific
requirements.
One of the principal aims of the competition is to explore hidden
talents among younger Architects. To many competitors, it often is
DUTIES
OF ASSESSOR:the
first step
to a successful career.
For practical reasons, Assessor or Senior Assessor advise the
promoter on all matters connected with the competition from the
promoter's decision to hold the competition till the final award.

Assessors (or the Senior Assessor) will:

1. Assist in the preparation and approval of the brief. The brief
must be complete giving all details of competition like type of
competition, nature of prizes, name of assessors, time limit,
method of submission, prizes, honoraria, etc.
2. Study and understand the requirements of the Local Authorities.
3. Visit and examine the project site, if necessary.
4. Advise on the appointment of the Technical Advisers, if
necessary.
5. Finalize the competition conditions.
6. Examine and scrutinize all the designs submitted.
7. Prepare the final report/award.
on the basis of solution
COMPETITIONS

LIMITED

SPECIAL

Ideas Competitions:
This type of competition is not necessarily project specific. These are
promoted to generate innovative ideas of design of buildings and
town planning. The winner of such competition is not expected to
execute his design. In such a competition participation by the
students of architecture depends upon the discretion of promoters.
Project Competitions:
These competitions are related to specific sites and specific types of
buildings. The purpose of promoter is to get a design of high
creativity within the available constraints of space, cost and time.
The ultimate objective is to award the project to the winner of the
competition. The successful architect is generally commissioned the
Methods
Organization
Competitions:
project of
and
is suitableoffor
building job.
1)Single
Stage Competitions:

This type of competition considers submission of entries only once.

In this competitors are required to submit fairly complete drawings like plans,
sections, elevations, etc to a suitable scale.
The jury assesses the designs only once and selects the prize winning entries.
The author of the best design is awarded the project.
This type of competition is recommended for small and simple projects but
same can be used for big projects too. The identity of winners is not known till
the jury makes its selection.

2)Two Stage Competitions:

For a large and complex project or town planning, a two stage competition is
recommended.
In the first stage all the participants are expected to present their schemes
in broad terms giving an idea about their concept. The drawings for this
stage are drawn to a smaller scale. Detailed plans, elevations, sections, etc.
are not called for at this stage. The identity of participants is not known to
the jury at this stage.
The jury selects between five and ten entries which have the desired merit.
These selected Architects are then given further time to work out their
respective schemes in greater detail. The jury then selects the best entry on
the basis of such detailed entries. Each Architect who is selected for the
second stage is paid a specified amount as honorarium.
The author of the best entry is awarded the project.
Open Competitions:
Competition in which architects are invited to participate through an announcement by
advertisements in suitable media and through circulars which may be issued by the
promoters.
Open competition for projects estimated at less than Rs. 10, 00,000 may be restricted
to architects who have their main or branch office in the state of the project site.
Students are not permitted to take part in such competitions.
Normally three prizes are given in each competition. The winner is given the
responsibility of design and execution of the project.

TheLimited
promoters
short-list a few
Competitions
: architects(approx. 5to8) on the advice of senior
architect or assessor or jury members or on certain pre-determined criteria for such
a competition. Such short-listed or selected Architects are invited to take part in
such a competition.
The basic difference between an open competition and a limited competition is that
every participant in a limited competition is paid a fixed sum as honorarium and the
winner is asked to execute the project.

Special Competitions:
These competitions are of special character. These may also combine town
planning as well as design of industrial components such as prefab units or
may involve design of large complexes, neighborhood city or projects
involving developers.
Only large practices certain groups of professionals are targeted for such
competitions.
GUIDELINES
The field of expertise
is specified in the
announcement of such competitions.
FOR CONDUCTING
COMPETITIONS:The purpose of these Guidelines is to indicate the principles upon which
competitions will be conducted and the rules which must be observed by
a promoter for conducting competitions.
1. Eligibility of Competitors:
Participation in any and all competitions shall be open to:
Architects i.e. those who are registered with the Council of Architecture.
Firms in which all the partners shall be registered with the Council of
Architecture under the Architects Act, 1972 on the date of announcement of
the competition and thereafter.

Students of a Teaching Institution which is recognised by the Council of

Architecture provided that no member of the staff of the said institution is the
sole Assessor or in a jury of three or more Assessors.
Promoter, assessor or any of their associate, partner shall not take part.
Competitor have to submit a proof of qualification, copy of his valid
Registration certificate issued by the Council of Architecture, and in case of a
student, a certificate from the head of his institution.
2. Competition :
The word 'Competition' shall apply to any competition described above and
participation shall be open only to those qualified.
The conditions of the competitions shall clearly give conditions based upon
guidelines prescribed by the Council of Architecture:
Type of Competition.
Purpose of the competition and intentions of the promoter.
Nature of the problem to be solved.
All practical and mandatory requirements to be met by the competitors.
Number, nature, scale and dimensions of the documents, plan and/or models.
Estimates if required in standard form issued with the conditions.
Nature of prizes.
Names of Assessors.
Necessary information required for conducting the competition.
4. The competition shall be conducted in English.

1.The appointment of assessors is to be form the panel suggested have to by

the council to judge the design.
2.The Board of Assessors shall consist of an odd number and not exceeding
seven of persons.
3.The promoters can have their own assessors on the panel, not more than
two.
4.if the promoters desire to have two assessors from their side, three will
have to be from the panel recommended.
4. Prize, Honoraria and Mentions:
In every competition announcement in media should be done regarding the
number of prizes, their amounts and the amount of honorarium offered to each
competitor in a limited competition.
The total prize money should be about one per cent of the estimated cost of
the project.
5. Copyright & Right of Ownership:
Each competitor will have the copyright in his own design and he shall have the
right to reproduce his own competition design in brochures etc. but will not
exploit it commercially.
6. Exhibition of entries :
All competition designs including those disqualified by the Board of Assessors
shall be exhibited for atleast one week, together with a copy of the signed
report of the Board of Assessors. The exhibition shall be open to public free of
charge.
7. Wide publicity to be given to the competition for its success.
8. Each design shall be accompanied by a declaration on the prescribed form
signed by the competitor in a properly sealed envelope.

ADVANTAGES:Competitions are advantageous for promoter and competitor both.

FOR PROMOTER
1) POSSIBILITY THAT AN OUSTANDING DESIGN WILL EMERGE: A competition will
cost little more than hiring an Architect privately but the design outcome will
be outstanding.
2) CLIENT HAS CHOICES: variable ideas and designs will be produced and client
will have more options for his design to choose the best which suits him.
3) GREAT PUBLIC INTEREST: by promoting competitions, the promoter makes a
public involvement and make public aware of the architectural field.
FOR COMPETITORS:
1)EXPLORE HIDDEN TALENTS: One of the main principle aim of conducting
competitions is to explore the talents of the younger architects. For many
architects it is the first step to their career.
2)OPPORTUNITY FOR RESEARCH: Many architects think competitions are best
opportunity for the research purpose, for study a new building, etc.