DENCITY 2017

Shelter Global is pleased to invite architects, planners,

students, engineers, designers, thinkers, NGOs and
organizations from all over the world to take part in the
2017 Dencity Competition.

The world’s population is rapidly growing and places all

over the world are having to adapt to an unprecedented

BRIEF
increase in urbanization. Towns are quickly growing into
cities, and some of the densest places in the world are
comprised of makeshift homes, otherwise referred to as
slums. Right now, well over 1 billion people around the
world live in slums. This number is rapidly growing and it is
expected to reach 2 billion by the year 2030.

Design has always played a tremendous role in generating

new ideas for the future. Now, more than ever, we need to
turn our focus to cities and play a central role in the
development of substandard neighborhoods.Slums effect
much more than just housing; they affect almost all living
conditions and communities as a whole.
INTENT

The intent of this competition is to foster new

conceptual ideas about how to better handle
the growing density of unplanned cities.
Contestants should consider how design can
empower communities and allow for a self-
sufficient future.
For this year's competition, the focus will be
on improving living conditions in urban
settings. There are no restrictions in regards
to site, program, or size. Projects can be
based on a specific urban location or a
general concept. The object is to limit
constraints and give participants the freedom
to think in the most creative way possible.
Submissions do not need to be created
exclusively for the Dencity Competition, but
should not have been submitted or published
elsewhere.
 Over the years Shelter Global has
assembled a diverse group of
JURY UNDER jurors from around the world with
expertise in architecture, urban
planning, academics and more.
 Architects, students, engineers,
designers, thinkers, NGOs and
organizations are all invited to
participate in this competition. No
professional qualifications are
necessary. Interdisciplinary teams are
also encouraged to join.
* Registration Fee is $55/project
* Standard registration opens January
RULES 09, 2017
* Standard registration closes March
13, 2017
* Late registration goes until April 24,
2017 at midnight and is $80
* Participants may submit multiple
projects, but must register each entry
* Individual entries are allowed. All
teams are limited to 4 people maximum
Delhi: Flood
Resilience
Introduction
“Unauthorized Colony” are the words used by officials to describe the Yamuna Pushta slum. More than fifty
years ago, its first inhabitants migrated from the countryside to settle on the banks of the Yamuna river in
Delhi. In 2004, most of the Yamuna Pushpa slum was destroyed using bulldozers. During the preparations
for the Commonwealth games in 2010, other old slums from Delhi were also destroyed. Some parts survived
and were filled again with constant new arrivals of migrants in the city. However, they remained
“Unauthorized”, a critical status which makes the inhabitants undesirable in the “world-class city” Delhi is
trying to become. Since 1990, more than 100 000 homes were destroyed by bulldozers on the Yamuna banks.
More than 80 % of the people were were left homeless and without future housing solutions. The remaining
20% were sent to legal camps outside the city away from public transportation and employment, and often in
worse living conditions than before. Nowadays the future of this neighborhood remains uncertain and
fragile. The inhabitants have been living in this place for several generations, producing a rich, dense
urbanism in contrast with the colonial New-Delhi of Lutyens or the current luxury real estate complexes,
mostly built for upper class citizens. The process of building is based on the terrain, the peoples needs,
their economical possibilities, and their ability to build with found materials also their cultural beliefs. The
settlement is in contact with the oldest cremation ghat of the city. The inhabitants developed a strong
economical relationship with the Yamuna. They cultivate ceremonial flowers, propose boat tours on the
river, and manage all aspects of local agriculture and livestock on the opposite bank of the Yamuna.
Blocked in this illegal and precarious situation, the slum has been separated from the rest of the city by
high walls and fences, enhancing community isolation.
The current state of the Yamuna in Delhi has undergone a recurring depreciation process since the
second part of the 20th century until now. Often described as “Biologically dead”, this stretch in
Delhi is one of the most polluted water bodies in the world. The incredible urbanization of Delhi
has also diminished the strong relation that existed between the inhabitants and their land. The
former floodplain is primarily used as a site for waste landfill, and no longer has any physical
presence except during the devastating floods. The main victims of this natural disaster are
amongst the poorest inhabitants of Delhi. The Yamuna Pushta Colony is situated in the danger
zone. Every year or two, the inhabitants are forced to leave during the monsoon flood. Afterwards
they return and start cleaning and rebuilding what was damaged.

The adaptation to the risk of flood is visible in the architecture. Public spaces and first floors
are used intensely during the dry season, and important things can be quickly moved to flat roof
tops while the family lives on the second floor. Ladders and stairs, interconnected high floors,
and roof tops are the sign of cultural resilience to risk.

EXISTING SLUM