Fig.1: Cities are now rapidly growing 

The current urbanscape

In today’s urban landscape timelessly rising skyscrapers have overpowered the smaller yet equally important elements in our city. 
It not only refers to the configuration of built forms but also the elements that define interstitial spaces. It represents the physical built environment of our city.

However, what we see today is the progression of ever-increasing skyscrapers that mark the skyscape of a city, overpowering smaller elements and creating a more urban void. This plays a major role in defining the city's urbanscape.

Through the theme, ‘Urbanscape’, we seek to explore urban furniture designs that not only enrich the built environment but also improve the quality of such interstitial spaces and urban voids. Furthermore, the design should suit and enhance the beauty of an urban setup.

Urban void

The entry for urbanscape should be a forward-thinking product with the intent to create a useful, functional and sustainable product. We expect original, creative and innovative ideas to furnish such interstitial spaces and urban voids without ignoring the existing problems.

Additionally, the design of urban furniture should adhere to the following points.:

• It should give a new definition to the existing interstitial. 

• The overall size of the furniture should not be more than 8’ x 4’ x 4’ (disassembled in case of an assembly of multiple items).

• It should follow modularity to make replicability of the furniture easier.

• It should be functional and serviceable overall. 

• It should correspond to the urban context for which the furniture is being designed.

• It should be comprehensive and not limited to the preference of a particular age group.

• Innovation, in terms of material exploration, use of technology and fabrication methodology, will be the key criteria for the basis of judgment.

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Criteria for 'urbanscape'

Responsibility: 

+ Production efficiency

+ Consideration of environmental standards / carbon footprint

+ Social responsibility

+ Universal design 

Creativity:

+ Degree of innovation

+ Degree of elaboration

+ Uniqueness

Functionality:

+ Use value and usability

+ Ergonomics 

+ Practicability

+ Safety

Aesthetics:

+ Aesthetic appeal in the context of the urbanscape 

+ Emotional appeal

+ Spatial concept

+ Ambiance

Material Innovation:

+ Exploration of New Material altogether

+ Integration of new/interactive technology

+ Exploring the capabilities of existing Material

+ Use of Recycled Material

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Prizes for the competition - Urbanscape 

• Winner

+ 1500$ cash

+ Sponsored ticket to Boun Exhibit and an opportunity to showcase your product to the rest of the world.

• Runner-Up

+ 1000$ in cash

• 2nd Runner-Up

+ 2 x 500$ in cash

• Honourable mentions

+ 10 x Scroll of honour and publication in our Bi-annual Digest

• Shortlisted Entries

+ All shortlisted entries will be featured on our website, exhibited in Boun Exhibit and will get a participation certificate.

• Publications

+ All medal holders and winners will get an elaborate section of publishing in the Bi-annual Digest and on our partner websites

• Realisation & Promotion

+ Fabrication and Marketing opportunity with royalty in association with UNI

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Winning entries for Urban void redesign

Winner 

PLATFORM

A PLATFORM (December 2017) acts as a catalyst for the user and space, life and activity. It dwells at the edge of the street and aims to invite people to make it a part of their routine. PLATFORM is a systemic design approach that is developed as a module of 1-4 seater and the location of each PLATFORM is decided after the study of surrounding areas.

Runner Ups

URBAN CRISIS

This project deals with the urban platform and relations between humans with nature. Generally, we try to create sustainable architecture in an urban context.

HUME WORLD

Understanding the Indian Context, this project; 1. Identifies and enhances existing recurring urban elements. 2. Ensures subconscious usability even as it incorporates the informal sector. 3. Utilizes existing infrastructural material for economic sustainability and ease of fabrication. To create a complete kit of modular, yet diverse - Urban Elements.

BLOC

Bloc is an adaptable furniture system that enhances interstitial space. One Bloc includes (2) cubes with components that can be assembled in various configurations for site-specific needs. Bloc is made of material produced from re-purposed waste products and includes a self-cleaning coating. High tech accessories are incorporated to enhance the user interface.

 

Honourable mentions

 

1. THE CART-HOME

Is a device for living and working in the street, a public good of decentralized administration. Is an opportunity for those in need, which provides emergency shelter and working spaces: movable furniture that adapts to our contingencies.

2. Skoop

Skoop is an urban module that is simultaneously a waste byproduct of the urbanscape's booming development and a host to our urban interaction.

3. Lean On Barrier System

A resting solution that caters to the socializing and barricading needs of specific junctions of Ahmedabad. It gives an opportunity to break from work and add value to the aspect of place-making in urban scenarios. This project identifies issues like- parking, socializing, crowding, resources, safety, etc. that exist as the result of other functions.

4. CUL-CHAKRA

The proposal aims to solve the problem faced by vendors in the current scenario by introducing 'CUL-CHAKRA' as an element of the urban streetscape. 'CUL-CHAKRA' will help vendors and streets to sustain and make new urban language along with the old essence of activities on street.

5. Grobund - Insect Hotels & Urban Biotopes

Grobund is a new form of urban benches and elements of urban biotopic structures that will increase biodiversity in our cities. We want the future of urban furniture to enrich the built environment as well as the natural environment surrounding it. We want to transform urban spaces into green hearts, that can provide the whole city with a better climate.

6. The GATHERING-TIME

This proposal, titled GATHERING-TIME, encourages everyone to discover a series of gathering spaces through interstitial spaces in urban university campuses. The design proposal intends to redefine the campus bench from a repeatable object into a distinct, expressive space that can attract and delight people, inviting them to gather in small and large groups.

7. TIP-TOP URBAN MATES

The modular urban furniture collection is open to a variety of interpretations by its users, stimulating them to come up with new ideas for its use. The location of the project is a rooftop of a parking structure in downtown Portland, Oregon. The objects are made of recycled ocean plastic.

8. NOR MOD

The objective of this project was to create a series of modules that connected, form different configurations of shapes and sizes for the benefit of the space in which they will be placed, starring the green areas and the user letting them live together in harmony.

9. cloud

Our proposition is to create city life that spontaneously are generated by human behavior in modern city landscapes. It?s like clouds that appear and disappear Incessantly. This furniture is not perceived as furniture named bench or parasol. People spontaneously sit here and naturally get together under the shade. The way how to use this furniture depends.

10. S BENCH

S Bench is designed to attract many visitors in the heart of New York City, Times Square. The youthful, stylish, friendly form of the S Bench features continuously rounded interaction that draws people to look, touch and enjoy both as bench and table.