ARCHITECH 2013

COMPETITION BRIEF


Desi gn i s not maki ng beauty, beauty emerges from
sel ecti on, affi ni ti es, i ntegrati on, and l ove.
-Loui s Kahn

We, at ARCHI TECH 2013, shal l experi ence the fl i ght of
i magi nati on to a l evel of l ogi cal associ ati on wi th the present day;
and expect for i nnovati ve i deas that conceptual i se Bi omi mi cry.
Looki ng forward to the ori gi nators of such i deas whi ch coul d be
revol uti onary i n a compl etel y new sense, we ci rcul ate the vi si on
of a better tomorrow. I t i s the very upbr i ngi ng of Mother Nature
that has so many secrets yet to be percei ved by the pl ai n vi si on
of everyone around us. To revi ew the same del i ghts of Nature yet,
i n a parti cul arl y structured manner , an i nnovati ve sol uti on woul d
dri ve us to a bl i ssful surroundi ng. Thi s competi ti on i s to cal cul ate
the effecti veness of an al ready promi si ng generati on of the future
of our human ci vi l i sati on, and we shal l try to exerci se the l earnt
facts and creati ve brai nwave. Lets create a pl atform that
evol ves furthermore and showcase memorabl e proj ects.

Recogni zi ng the need i s the pri mary condi ti on for desi gn.
-Charl es Eames

Concept
Bi omi mi cry comes from the Greek words bi os, meani ng l i fe,
and mi mesi s, meani ng to i mi tate whi ch i s the abi l i ty of a system to
mi mi c a bi ol ogi cal shape, behavi our or el ement. Whi l e,
Bi omi meti cs coul d be termed to descri be the transfer of i deas
from bi ol ogy to technol ogy, Bi omi mi cry i s but, the materi al i sati on
of that i dea for human comfor t and conveni ence i n thi s ever
evol vi ng worl d. The shape of a natural organi sm fol l ows
hi erarchi cal and di vi si onal properti es of l i fe and an i nsti ncti ve
bel ongi ng to i t. Bi omorphi sm i s the stream of Bi omi mi cry that i s
based upon the shape and structural format of an organi sm. As
bei ng a part of nature, humans have a tendency to rel ate to
these patterns of l i fe and scal i ng pri nci pl es whi ch even el aborates
the fact that there i s beauty i n mathemati cs.

As, mathemati cs and archi tecture are i nseparabl e, so i s the
cri teri a of a human touch to both the domai ns of theori zi ng the
natural envi ronments; hence, for ages we have been tryi ng to
di spel the mysteri es of nature and i nfer them to create a shel ter.
As we progress, the percepti on of creati ng thi s shel ter has
evol ved wi th our very evol uti on and now, we stand on a pl atform
where i nstead of overcomi ng Nature, we are tryi ng to be i n sync
wi th i t. Humans bei ng compl ex and the most devel oped ?????
organi sms i n Nature have the abi l i ty to process and synthesi se
certai n avai l abl e i nformati on to create somethi ng useful . I n a
si mi l ar way, there are other organi sms whi ch compri se the
bi osphere and i nter -depend on each other and process to
synthesi se the envi ronment where we l i ve. Thi s i nter -dependence
on each other resul ts i n a recogni ti on of the ar rangement of the
bi ol ogi cal i magery; we feel the bel ongi ngness to the Nature.

Bi omorphi sm and Bi omi mi cry have been materi al i sed many a
ti mes i n the real worl d to add freshness to our l i fe so, a vi sual l y
fami l i ar bui l di ng structure i s i mportant, for exampl e, the Sagrada
Fam l i a church by Antoni o Gaud i n Barcel ona contai ns many
features i nspi red by nature, such as branchi ng col umns i ntended
to refl ect trees, and the TWA termi nal formul ates the fl i ght of a
bi rd I s the second exampl e rel ated to bi omi mi cry ???????.

LEVEL I
THE DESIGN PROBLEM:
Desi gn Statement:
As it is a common necessity for expansion of knowledge and awareness
for development, the design activity has that been chosen is an Institutional
Exhibition Area, where the exchange of ideas takes place through
interactive experiences. While, exhibitions are not structurally permanent and
need to be flexible with its arrangement and circulation, it has a scope of
customisation. To aid these principles an emotional, sensory response or a
narrative effect needs to be produced by the structural organisation of the
project which could be attained by a controlled distribution of space, yet the
needed flexibility shall be maintained.
As any Exhibition reaches out to a range of individuals, the viewers
response(s) shall also be assumed comprehensively. A certain degree of
adaptability regarding the place and environment is expected.

The proper study of mankind is the science of design.
-Herbert Simon

Si te detai l s and constrai nts:
The si te i s l ocated i nsi de the VNI T campus, j ust next to the
audi tori um, compri si ng of 2 entry ways. The si te has two roads
touchi ng i t adj acentl y on two si des. Other than the audi tori um,
the si te al so contai ns a cafeteri a.
The si te l i es at the centre of the campus, whi ch i s a very
effecti ve spot for hol di ng students/academi cs presentati on
acti vi ti es.

Inspiration/Mimicking of the design should be chosen from ANY
biologically existing species which fits ??????? into the given site and has
potential to solve the arising design challenges.
Where are you menti oni ng the context/ character of the
campus????? How woul d the desi gn accommodate i tsel f i n the
gi ven context???????
Locati on: V. N.I .T Nagpur
Area: 1250 sq. m
Maxi mum permi ssi bl e hei ght: 6.5m
Mandatory El ements i n Desi gn:
Exhi bi ti on Area
Canopy
Si tti ng Area (5-10 peopl e)
Hel p Desk
Pathways

Desi gn Requi rements:
The desi gn of the structure shoul d cl earl y di spl ay the
concept of bi omorphi sm
The structure shoul d be necessari l y a semi -open space.
I mmedi ate surroundi ngs shoul d be consi dered whi l e
desi gni ng.
Proper zoni ng.
The structure, at a ti me shoul d compensate / accommodate
?????? 50 peopl e.
Di spl ay panel arrangements/Ci rcul ati on shoul d be
thoughtful l y desi gn of the exhi bi ti on space.
Submi ssi on requi rement:
Si te anal ysi s: 1sheet/sl i de
Concept and desi gn devel opment : 1-2sheets/sl i de
Pl an: 1sheet/sl i de
El evati ons and Secti ons: 1-2sheets/sl i des
Vi ews: 1-2 sheets/sl i de

Mi ni mum number of sheets/sl i des: 5Nos.
Maxi mum number of sheets/sl i des: 8Nos.
Medi um of submi ssi on:
Presenti ng medi um can be PowerPoi nt presentati on (4:3)
OR
Handmade sheets A3si ze (420mm x 297mm) (scanned copy
mandatory)

Al l the sheets/sl i des shoul d contai n " DEVISE 2013" i n thei r
format.
Each parti ci pati ng team shoul d have maxi mum 2members per
entry.

LEVEL II
Concept :
To furthermore expl i cate Bi omi mi cry, i t i s the i ncorporati on of
the functi onal aspect of the model under consi derati on, for
exampl e, how the cool i ng system of the Eastgate Centre
bui l di ng, Harare i s model l ed after a termi te mound to achi eve a
very effi ci ent passi ve cool i ng. As the l i kel i hood of an organi sm
capabl e of modi fyi ng i ts i nternal condi ti ons contrary to the
avai l abl e external condi ti ons, the concept of Bi omorphi sm i s
unwrapped to i ncl ude Bi omi meti cs, whi ch means to i mi tate the
worki ng of an organi sm, up to a comprehensi ve extent .
The effect of an envi ronment, of the bui l di ng system, on the
user deci des the l evel of i ts acceptabi l i ty. So, a more extensi ve
approach, to the bi ol ogi cal i mi tati on and i ts i nterpretati on to
produce a bui l di ng envel ope, l eads to a hol i sti c desi gn
generati on.
As one understands desi gni ng to be a proces s assi mi l ati ng al l
the requi red i nformati on to construct a practi cabl e prototype, the
l i nk-up needed for maki ng the concept hi ghl i ght through the
usage of al ready exi sti ng techni ques and tool s i s val ued.

THE DESIGN PROBLEM:

Desi gn Statement :
A l arger domai n for an evol ved concept determi nes the
scal e to even expand; hence a Conventi on Centre shal l be
devel oped. I n case of a Conventi on Centre the exchange of
i deas as wel l as the materi al i sati on of i deas take pl ace, there i s
al so a requi rement of more sol i d understandi ng of the bui l t
envel ope. Apart from the i nter -dependence of the vari ous
el ements i n a bi ol ogi cal organi sm, there i s even the rel ati on
between the organi sm and i ts envi ronment .
So, to scheme out a sui tabl e sol uti on, a wi der span of desi gn
concepti on i s requi red wi th a bal anced rendi ti on of the
assembl ed materi al .

Site details and constraints:
The site is located between the existing Nagpur city, and the
upcoming New Nagpur MIHAN, lying within the context of various multi-
national companies/industries, and posh residential townships, connected
with airport in proximity and directly attached to NH7 Wardha Road.
This proposed convention centre will set an example sitting right in
between the two extremely varying entities, and exhibit the inside (the
function) as well as the outside (the nature inspired design).
Inspiration/Mimicking of the design should be chosen from ANY
biologically existing species which fits ???????? into the given site and has
potential to solve the arising design challenges.
Location: Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Site area: 8.14 Acre approx. 33, 650.76sq.m
Maximum ground coverage: 35%
Maximum floor area ratio: 1

There is a height restriction in that area ??????

Design requirement:
The design of the structure should clearly display the concepts emerging from
bio-mimicry IN:
Activities:
Zoning of facilities
Ordering principles
Integration and division of spaces.
Workability of the structure:
Climate responsiveness of structure.
Structural stability.

Tentative number of users:
1. Auditorium how much?????
2. Amphitheatre/ Open Air Theatre- 450
3. Expo Area- 100 shops
4. Toilet- as per requirement
5. Administration block- 20
6. Maintenance and security- 20
7. Guest house- 20 (10 rooms)
8. Conference room/ seminar hall- 150
9. Cafeteria- 50
10. Parking- 20 truck, 50 cars, 75 x 2-wheelers.


Submission requirements:
Site analysis: 1-2 sheets/slide
Concept and design development: 1-3 sheets/slide
Case study: 1-2 sheets/slide
Plans (roof and floor plans): 1-3 sheets/slide
Sections and elevations: 2-4 sheets/slide
Views: 2-4 sheets/slide
Future scope: 1 sheet/slide

Minimum number of slides/sheets: 9
Maximum number of slides/sheets: 19

Presenting medium should be PowerPoint presentation (4:3)
OR
Hand-made sheets A3size (420mm x 297mm) (scanned copy
mandatory)
All the sheets should contain "DEVISE 2013" in their format and
numbered clearly.
The sheets should be as much self-explanatory as possible for
participants who are sending entries online, and who cant attend jury
round presentation.
Each parti ci pati ng team shoul d have maxi mum 4members
per entry.
What i s desi gn? I t' s where you stand wi th a foot i n two worl ds -
the worl d of technol ogy and the worl d of peopl e and human
purposes - and you try to bri ng the two together.
-Mi tchel l Kapor
Judging criteria:
LEVEL1:
Originality of the concepts (Design/Elements copied from previously
published sources will be disqualified)
Use of bio morphism at different levels (e.g. Interiors, exteriors, etc.)
Aesthetic Appeal
Innovative ideas
Explanation through views
In tune with the context ??????
LEVEL2:
Originality
Rationale of concept of selection
Actual translation of bio mimicry in design
Use of materials
Energy/Climatic concerns undertook / incorporated????
Explanation of views

LAST DATE OF REGISTRATION: 5
th
SEPTEMBER 2013
LAST DATE OF SENDING ENTRIES: 18
th
SEPTEMBER 2013
All entries should be mailed to devise13@axisvnit.org by 12pm of 18
th
September.

Contact details:
Competition coordinator:
Krishna Sirugudi: +91 9766 055 284

Event managers:
Manish Manohare: +91 8983 376 821
Rohil Khatke: +91 9422 840 880