To the regular student of architecture, journalism may seem as a largely outlandish field. It is, however, largely untapped as a source of intellect. It is this source that Dayananda Sagar College of Architecture (DSCA), Bengaluru, India, one of the renowned architectural institutions of India is looking to explore through its venture of an essay writing competition.
Essays in Architecture organised by the institution is aimed at architectural students who have a flair for writing and display an ability to articulate ideas in written format. It has been conceived with the belief that the expression of thought and ideas can be done with the help of the written word, and not just the time-tested methods of architects.
The institution through this maiden venture in South India, hopes to establish this event as a standard for exemplary literary output. It is also hoped that this competition will encourage students to think beyond the conventional roles that architecture as a profession has offered thus far.
Reflecting on the need to initiate this kind of competition, Prof. (Dr.) Rama R. Subrahmanian, Principal, DSCA says, “A recent survey by Kansas State University’s Department of Architecture found graduating students receive lowest scores in the area of ‘written communication’. This is true of graduating students of Indian Schools of Architecture too. The ability to communicate and write logically and with clarity is essential if architects are to assume leadership, and prevail in social, political and economic contexts where key decisions about the built environment are made. The Essay prize is an endeavor to promote design writing/writing about design as a valuable accomplishment. The ability to write about design is rare, and we hope to honor this less valued skill and highlight the accomplishment.”
Author & award-winning architectural journalist, Ar. Apurva Bose Dutta who joins hands with DSCA as the curator for the above competition, adds, “One of the main aims of my career in architectural-design journalism has been to promote the visibility of architectural writing and critical thinking, especially in India. I am delighted to be associated with this initiative by DSCA, which is going to go a long way in bringing forth talent of architectural writers in the country and is going to motivate them to pursue architectural writing with more courage, and less uncertainty. I hope this competition can be a step forward to bring the subject of architectural-design writing in India to the forefront.”
The competition is supported by Architecture+Design (Journal Partner) and ArchDaily (Digital Media Partner). The Jury Panel consists of renowned experts from the architecture-writing-technology field - architects Madhavi Desai (Ahmedabad), Sameera Rathod (Mumbai), Sushant Verma (New Delhi), Yatin Pandya (Ahmedabad), and journalist Kanchan Kaur (Bengaluru).
SPECIFICATIONS
The theme of the essay writing competition is 'Architecture and Technology', both of which have been pivotal segments for shaping the future. The theme probing into their sensitive relationship and their complementing each other, hopes to explore motifs of both a utopian and a dystopian nature. It is eventually hoped that the students attempting the essay competition will learn the nuances of applying architecture with technology.
The competition is open to current registered architectural students who are pursuing a bachelor’s/master’s degree in accredited schools of architecture in India. Entries are invited in two formats, Long Essay (2500 words) and Short Essay (1000 words). Two Cash Prizes of Rs 25,000/- each, plus a Special Mention will be declared in both the formats. The four winning essays will also be published in a forthcoming issue of India’s respected architectural journal, Architecture+Design.
For registration and more information on the essay competition, visit https://www.essaysinarchitecture.info/. For any queries, write to dscaessayprize@gmail.com
Download the information related to this competition here.
Title
Call for Entries: ESSAYS IN ARCHITECTURE: Analyzing, Imagining, and ReinventingType
Competition Announcement (Student Competitions)Website
Organizers
Submission Deadline
November 12, 2019 08:00 PMPrice
Rs 250Country Restrictions
India