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Results Announced

Winner
What's Next?
By: Rashi Desadla

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Editor's Choice
The Future of Architecture
By: Szymon Świderski

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Fig: 1 – Traditional means of delivering design – Paper.

PREMISE

This edition looks at the evolution of the architecture profession and its services standing at the brink of being automated by technology. While it’s true the architects are growing in number globally across all the countries; the catching pace of technology is mind-numbing if not less. 

While we continue to question and create a better-built environment through our manual or computer-aided tools, the process we follow/implement is being mapped in ways unprecedented. 

The parametric tools which generate designs for us are now equipped with more knowledge learning from the patterns of how architecture designs are developed. While this software has become simpler, a home design is almost a click away from a common person may be in less than a decade’s time. 

If we consider how quickly the interfaces are adapting to serve people, a vast chunk of starter to moderately customized projects across the world can be built through such tools in minutes. That brings us to an existential question if nonetheless.

QUESTIONS

Building on the above premise writes an essay looking at realistic answers that society and architects should look at while re-aligning themselves to an industry that has vastly changed from yesteryears. 

The piece should investigate answers to the following questions; based on real-life experiences or interviews or reasoning built through research:

•    Will architectural design stay relevant in the future? Will architectural design by architects stay relevant in the future?
•    What factors accelerate these changes or shifts?
•    Do you think architects need to adapt? If yes then how OR If no then why?
•    How architects can continue to be useful to a larger section of society?
•    How can the economics of the architecture industry improve in the long run?
•    If tools begin to automate design, do you think architects will be excluded from such futures?
•    What steps the practice can take today to plant seeds that can be helpful to exist next to machines?

Fig: 2 – Programmes now learning patterns of how design is worked - Illustration

Deliverables

Participants shall deliver an essay of about 1000 - 1500 words and less than 3 images, in a cohesive piece that answers the above questions and arguments based on them. The images need to be ensured that they are copyright free or you own their rights.