National Association of Students of Architecture

Writing Architecture Trophy 2024-25

Exclaim!
1
 About NASA India
The National Association of Students of Architecture (NASA, India) is the world’s largest
architectural student-run organization. Founded in 1957 with just seven colleges, it
has grown to include over 350+ colleges and more than 66,000+ students, making
it a significant voice for architecture students across India. The association aims to
provide a platform for learning and interaction among students from diverse cultural
backgrounds.

NASA India functions as a non-profit and non-political organization. It is officially

registered under the Societies Act of 1860, with its headquarters at the Department
of Architecture, School of Planning and Architecture in New Delhi.

NASA India organizes various events, programs, and competitions throughout the
year. These include partnerships with organizations like HUDCO, GRIHA, and CPK for
design trophies. There are 11 design trophies in total, with the Annual NASA Design
Competition being the flagship trophy and offering students a platform to showcase
their creative talents and design innovations. We have partnered with the Council of
Architecture, India for the Student of the Year trophy as well.

The association’s flagship event is the Annual NASA Convention (ANC), the world’s
largest gathering of student architects. This event attracts over 4000+ students
participating in workshops, masterclasses, and programs led by more than 200
esteemed architects. Additionally, there are regional Zonal NASA Conventions held
in a year.

NASA India’s initiatives extend beyond traditional academics. The summer-winter

school programs offer immersive experiences that enhance students’ practical skills
and broaden their educational horizons. The “Insider” initiative allows students to
engage directly with experienced architects, gaining insights into office management
and professional practice. This interaction fosters mentorship and provides valuable
guidance. The Louis I Kahn Documentation series aims to preserve and disseminate
architectural knowledge by documenting significant but often overlooked sites.

NASA India hosts programs both nationally and internationally, in countries like
Japan, Sri Lanka, the USA, and South Korea. These experiences provide students with
enriching learning opportunities and enhance their networking capabilities.

The NEXUS is an informal meeting ground where students can form bonds, share
ideas, and collaborate. It emphasizes learning, mentoring, and networking, allowing
students to showcase their talents and develop new ideas with peers from around
the globe. We have also expanded into podcasts with our Spotify exclusive, The
Archade.

For more information, you can visit NASA India’s website - https://www.nasaindia.co/
Our social media pages are @wenasaindia and @mynasaindia on Instagram; on
Linkedin. Do check out our spotify originals The Archade and Youtube Channel.

National Association of Students of Architecture

Writing Architecture Trophy 2024-25
Exclaim!
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 Exclaim! - Our Annual Theme
Choose between being a goat in a herd or the king of the jungle as a lion.

I believe that most of us choose architecture as the path to break away from the
conventional routes of engineering and medicine. It’s a pursuit fueled by the desire to
showcase one’s unique ideas, creativity, and innovation. Many of us carry dreams of
designing landmark buildings in the cities or villages where we were born and raised,
making pursuing this lengthy professional program.

However, the obstacles that a student architect faces in India are sadly numerous. These
includes the demanding nature of the course, navigating through assessments that
balance creativity and innovation, limited exposure to professional practice within a six-
month timeframe, inadequate or nonexistent compensation for interns, and witnessing
unhealthy working conditions.

Yet, for aspiring architects in India, the road is riddled with challenges. From the intense
demands of the course which eventually bounds creativity and innovation between juries,
the journey is far from easy, limited exposure to professional practice within a sixmonth
timeframe, inadequate or nonexistent pay for interns, and witnessing unhealthy working
conditions adds to the struggle.

In the face of such obstacles, many find themselves questioning their choices and seeking
alternative paths. It’s not uncommon to see architecture graduates ending up in IT roles
and other such irrelevant platforms.

Did they choose to be a lion only to find themselves relegated to the role of a goat?

With the staggering pace of urbanisation and its consequential social and environmental
concerns, the necessity for architects is indisputable. However, do we possess sufÞ cient
awareness of architecture within the grassroots of the society? Can we envision
architectural education as accessible and affordable for all? Will our curriculum provide
enough autonomy to both institutions and students to ensure the quality of architectural
education in India?

I call upon all members of the National Association of Students of Architecture to

participate in the assemblage with like minds and deliberate upon the array of prevalent
issues and potential solutions. Together let’s Exclaim for reform and ensure a brighter
future for the architecture fraternity in India!.

National Association of Students of Architecture

Writing Architecture Trophy 2024-25
Exclaim!
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 Theme & Task

National Association of Students of Architecture

Writing Architecture Trophy 2024-25
Exclaim!
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 ARCHITECTS’ WORLD. A FANTASY, A MYTH - A REALITY

Architecture is a world of its own. Owing much to the paradigm of massive shift. We
live for the creativity that we make on others money. We strive for a perfect solution
to a world that is an ambivalent mystic bubble in the mind of the creator. We harbor
nuances that our clients don’t relish . We hear rejections that break our morale.

Architecture is the only profession where we use others’ money to build our vision.

When the money belongs to somebody, there are restrictions on the architect. It is
impossible to create that ideal picture in the mind, no matter how outstanding it may
be. The imaginination may be great but it can only be built on a firm ground through
finances sponsored by the clients.

The war is continuous, from bringing a fluid thought to reality.

The architect’s first clash is with himself, to create a utopian solution for all planning
problems—an image and iconography that will outlive his lifetime. All the principles
of design, the seven lamps of Ruskin, the Vitruvius dimensions, the pursuit of ‘isms’ and
implications of the period in history may not bring out that ‘moment of truth’ without
a visionary client.

The problem is with us.

We are the dilemma. Confused about the fee structure as mentioned in the Council
of Architecture, we dare to under quote. More obvious are the beginners in the
profession who do not shy away to undercut.

We kill the architect in us.

There are only a few organised forums where Architecture, and the problems
associated with it are discussed. In a country with about a million architects, there
are not more than ten intellectual organisations functioning for the betterment of the
profession. In the guise of discussions, we rip each other apart, disrespect our seniors
and our teachers. We ridicule the work done by other architects, and scoff at the fate
of a colleague in distress.

We have an atrocious public image.

We have made a mockery of us by our conduct and inadequacies by our illogical

and frivolous ideas. We are the ‘jack of all and master of none’. Even the naive bar-
bender at a residential site, who is adequately experienced, can scorn at our half-
baked sparse knowledge. We ultimately succumb to the acquired skill of carpenters,
plumbers, electricians and the mistris at the sites.

None of our Pierre Cardin blazers, Boss suits, and the Queen’s English we mastered while
pursuing higher studies in vague universities abroad can conceal our inadequacies.
The people who hire us do so for the content, and not for shoddy planning that we
end up doing. We procure more work than we can handle and render all clients
unhappy.

National Association of Students of Architecture

Writing Architecture Trophy 2024-25
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 The hunger for glory can bring out the worst in us, and we can stamp on the heads of
our well-wishers, fellow professionals, colleagues, and seniors, whenever opportunity
beckons. The goal is to be a ‘reputed architect’ and for this, we are ruthless and
unforgiving. We are the most ungrateful of the all the professions combined in the
industry.

We are ungrateful to our fraternity, ungrateful to our profession and ungrateful to the
opportunities. We rarely acknowledge or use the word thank you and instead snub all
those who actually facilitated us to obtain a project or a favor that helped us in our
private practice. We are scoundrels and love to be in that state until the end of our
lives.

Everyone today is an architect- from a housewife to a builder to a man on the streets.

Our profession is subject to criticism. In fact, the only profession in the world that is
judged all life long even by an illiterate or a highly qualified person.

How long we will suffer. How long more it will take to hold our profession as a thing of
necessity? Are we useful to the society ? Are we even capable of creating an impact
on the layperson? Will we always be subjected by others ? Will we have to bow down
to the rich who will then dictate us ? Thrash us ?Crush our self esteem and render us
mere draftsmen to the fantasies of the people who hire us ?

Let us dwell on the truth of this problem that our masters drilled in us that this is a noble
profession. Can be belittle ourselves more ?

The Challenge
So , in the final analysis, what is role of an architect? What is the scope of his craft
? How will be regarded as the messiah of the society he dwells in ?

How do we solve this issue of building a public image as respectful as a doctor or

a good lawyer?

We know much of the population of architecture is getting frustrated and

changing into different avenues and not getting into practice.

We know the solution lies with us and within us-We are looking forward to this.

Submission Requirements
Participants may choose to respond to one, several, or all of the posed questions,
selecting those that align best with their concept. However, the total word count should
not exceed 2000 words.

Any one of these forms will be accepted: a research essay, a satire, an imagined dream,
a defining reality or a story form.

The One-Stage submission process:

- A specific title as headline to better understand your content.
- A writeup of maximum 2000 words only with 12 point century gothic font in regular.

National Association of Students of Architecture

Writing Architecture Trophy 2024-25
Exclaim!
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 Guidelines

National Association of Students of Architecture

Writing Architecture Trophy 2024-25
Exclaim!
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Checklist for submission
1. Write-up PDF of not more than 10MB in size
2. Original Copy of Authentication Letter not more than 10MB in size
3. Original Copy of Declaration Letter not more than 10MB in size

Sheet & NASA India Logo Guidelines

Failing to comply with any of the guidelines may lead to disqualification at the discretion
of the executive council.

• NASA India Internal Logo shall always be placed on the right-hand bottom corner of the
sheet.
• NASA India logo should not be merged, overlapped etc. with any sort of text, graphic,
image, etc.
• NASA India logo should be in true black with a perfectly white background.
• Sheet Template to be followed is available in the drive link -
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F82YkD2ZzFs3xCeMXg_pVnbBaVFcLY89?usp=sharing

67WAT-X

Sheet Size- A4 A4 Size

Template

Templates to be followed are available at: @Template, @Authentication & Declaration Letter

Important Information
• Maximum (2) participants only Per Entry for the 67th Year Writing Architecture Trophy.
• A participant can submit only one entry, whether as group of two or individually for the
67th Year Writing Architecture Trophy.
• No limit to the number of entries per unit for the 67th Year Writing Architecture Trophy.
• Queries to be put forward through trophy page on the website
(http://www.nasaindia.co).
• Registration for one/multiple entries should be done by the Unit Secretary through the
Z-ID in the NASA India website before the registration deadline.
• Registration of the trophies will be final and cannot be changed or withdrawn
henceforth.
• Late Registration & submission will not be entertained, henceforth the defaulters shall be
disqualified.

National Association of Students of Architecture

Writing Architecture Trophy 2024-25
Exclaim!
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General Submission Guidelines
Failing to comply with any of the guidelines may lead to disqualification at the discretion of the executive
council.

• All text should be in English.

• The soft copy (non-editable format) submission along with authentication letter, declaration
letter and any other required documents prescribed in the submission requirements should
be uploaded on the website by the submission deadline.
• The soft copy file should not be corrupted or incomplete or in low resolution.
• It is mandatory to produce the original copy of the Authentication Letter for each
entry(entry code should be mentioned if allotted) with the name of participant(s) and
stating the unit will abide by whatever may be the final results and also agree that this entry
is a property of both the institute and NASA India.
• The Authentication Letter should be signed by the HOD/Principal/Director of the unit.
Failing to which the entry will be strictly disqualified.
• It is mandatory for the colleges to produce the original copy of the Declaration Letter for
each entry(entry code should be mentioned if allotted) signed by the participants stating
the work submitted is genuine and they have endorsed copy- rights for the same and to
adhere by all the rules and regulations, jury process and the results.
• Authetication & Declaration formats to be followed are available in the drive link -
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mschiSd0GIM4gjzg5914bdkUi54ZzluS?usp=sharing
• The Prize Money Authenticating Letter signed by the Director/ Principal / HOD in the
college letterhead specifying the account details ( Account Name, Account Number,
Bank Name, IFSC Code) in which the money is to be credited for each entry (entry code
should be mentioned if allotted) shall be collected at a later stage.
• Any misconduct such as exposing identity through college name/ stamp participant(s)
name or college code on the submission template will be disqualified.
Important

Release of Brief:
2nd October 2024, Wednesday

Registration Deadline:
20th October 2024, Sunday 1800 Hrs IST
Dates

Queries Deadline:
15th October 2024, Tuesday 1800 Hrs IST

Submission Deadline:
31st October 2024, Thursday 1800 Hrs IST

National Association of Students of Architecture

Writing Architecture Trophy 2024-25
Exclaim!
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 Money
Prize
Prize money of 1 Lakh INR/
1198.36 USD is allotted
The prize money will be divided according to the number
of Citations and Special Mentions based on the jury.

Moderator

Ar. Sangeet Sharma

A distinguished architect based in Chandigarh, renowned for his sustainable and
contemporary modern architecture. He is a multifaceted personality, encompassing roles
as an architect, poet, architectural critic, artist, author, motivational speaker, and musician.
He has authored several influential books on architecture, which includes the ‘Architalks’,
‘Corb’s Capitol’, and a poetry collection titled ‘The Touch of Moon’. His literary achievements
include the National Book Honor Award for ‘Castle in the Air’ and the Award for Creative
Excellence. A sought-after motivational speaker, Sangeet has delivered over 150 talks,
including a TEDx talk at NMIMS Hyderabad. He founded the A3 Foundation, promoting Art,
Architecture, and Aesthetics through seminars and awards.

All the best!

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National Association of Students of Architecture

Writing Architecture Trophy 2024-25
Exclaim!
10