Residence Rush

Fig: 1 – The project beginning versus the project end – An illustrated example

Journey of a project

No matter how projects are planned – the design eventually is a product of panic and days left to deadline. Even structured processes and schedules fail in a client meeting, where expectations and the design have sought different roads. 

The deadline dilemma is so true and universal across all regions and places that it is an inseparable part of professional and academic life. And despite planning/scheduling being placed, it eventually boils down to the performance in that key period that defines success or failure.

Set academic courses to follow predictability - training for this wild period is quintessential if not more. If deadline frenzy has been the past, present, and the future –

How can we train for it to create meaningful work in a limited time? How can we sharpen skills and techniques that help us train across such short spans to excel despite the turbulence?

Fig: 2 – Every problem is a time problem - Illustration

Time challenge

Parkinson's law states exactly this by articulating it in a statement – The work expands itself to the time that’s available. It’s funny how it is applicable to all things in a very similar way.

The start and the finishing parts of the project however are indeed the most creative ones. The design challenge looks at this specific part where we push to solve a design challenge in a limited timeframe. The problem statement involves not only good design but finding effective ways to depict and present them in a fast-moving schedule.

The competition focuses on residence design only as a theme with fixed minimum deliverables – Like a set of site/floor plans, interior mood board, elevations, and 4 x 3D views - in 5 days.

Fig: 3 – An architect using tracing sheets to conceive a quick scale plan - Illustration

 Schedule for the competition

The registration period will be open for 90 days followed by which the brief will be released. It will involve a site plan, a concept client statement, and a location to give it a basis. The problem statement contains some basic control regulations like setbacks and height limits. Any additional information can be assumed where ever necessary.

The competition info will be released via the additional resources folder for all the registered participants on the release day on your profile. (Click your avatar > My entries > Download resources). The submission window will be open for 5 days with no extensions. 

It’s expected to complete the work in the 4.5days window and upload everything, then update the project until the last minute with minor changes. The above limit of deliverables is minimum; you can add more elements to the submission based on your design outcome.

Objectives

• Design: The method/process of arriving at the residence with openness and clarity brought to the public.
• Presentation: How well the overall presentation is made based on the given guidelines, exhibiting the final outcome.
• Details: How well certain parts of the residence are conceived and demonstrated that exhibit your design novelty.

Site for the time competition

The site and other technical details will be revealed at the completion of the registration period. Please note all the registered participants will be notified on the date of release of the details hence please mark any emails from uni.xyz as non-spam to avoid missing notifications. Refer to the schedule page for release dates of the site details.

---

Judging Criteria

The entries will be judged by an international jury of the competition on the following criterions:

• Presentation: The fundamental to a good entry is a visual delivery of ideas.
• Concept/Idea: Quality of thought and intent in the pre-design phase.
• Spaces/Program: How the spaces are calculated and ordered.
• Design Outcome The final architectural outcome of the solution.

The judging panel can also add other criteria based on their internal discussions - which will be in line with the problem statement. Participants are advised to fulfil the above given criterions first in their design. Names of the jury panel will be announced soon.