Architectural Journalism Competition, India: Series 1, was themed as "Share an Experience to any Architectural masterpiece" in India with the concept brief: "Monuments and Masterpieces exist everywhere; only their stories remain untold and thus, unheard." 

Even in India, there are many great works that are being built. It is only through architectural journalism that people will understand architecture in a more defined manner. In fact, through this technique, people would get to know about the thought process of the architect of the work, his visualizations, the design considerations, the mechanisms used, the reason for that particular masterpiece being distinguished and most importantly, the architect’s point of view on the creation."

The organisation has announced the winning stories and see the winners with their abstracts:

Student Category Winner: 'A Stroke of Genius' by Faizaan Hashir,  B.Arch 2nd year Malik Sandal Institute of  Architecture, Bijapur

Abstract: 'A Stroke of Genius': "Is that it?" asked one of my friends. I nodded my head in agreement, marveling at the structure on the horizon, visible from some 13 kilometers away from its location as we traveled towards Bijapur to espy one of the masterpieces of Deccan architecture-THE GOL GUMBAZ. The city of Bijapur, located in the northern part of Karnataka, once the capital of the Deccan and the seat of power of the Adil Shahis for more than two hundred years. We reached the Gumbaz the mausoleum of the greatest Sultan of the Adil shahis-Muhammad Adil Shah. During the reign of the ‘Merry Monarch’ Bijapur reached its zenith in terms of prosperity and architectural brilliance. One look at the structure and we could only imagine the grandeur that the kingdom must have had nearly four centuries ago.

Professional Category Winner- 'Comparative study of historical temple monuments, a Case of Andhra and Telangana states' by Prof. K. Sarada & Ch.Kusuma Srilekha, Ashoka School of Planning & Architecture, Hyderabad.

Abstract: 'Comparative study of historical temple monuments, a Case of Andhra and Telangana states': The practice of pilgrimage in India is so deeply embedded in the cultural psyche and the numbers of pilgrimage sites are so large that the entire subcontinent may actually be regarded as one grand and continuous sacred space. In India, all temples are considered as sacred places and thus religious visitors to the temples may be described as pilgrims or tourists. Emphasising on this, an attempt is made to study the selected historical temples of Lord Rama in both the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. One is in Vontimitta village, Rajampet Taluk, Cuddapah district in Andhra Pradesh state and the other one is in Shamshabad, Hyderabad city, Telangana state. The reason for selecting similar temples from these two states is because both the temples deify Lord Kodandarama, and both are historically relevant and bear the ‘ heritage status’, dating back to timelines of 13th and 16th centuries. The selected temples can be considered on par with the famous Lord Rama temple of Bhadrachalam in Khammam district, Telangana of the seventeenth century. However as far as development of the temple towns are concerned, both the selected temples are no match at all with the temple at Bhadrachalam. This article tries to critically review both these temples, considering the architectural, conservation and planning aspects and evaluate how and to what extent they have contributed to the overall development of the temple towns and pinpoint the lacunae, if any, to bring these temple towns on par with Bhadrachalam town.

'Special Mention Certificate' for Professional Category: LEST WE FORGET…….the Sacrifice, the Endurance, the Architecture: Cellular Jail by Ar. Navneet Sandhu Singh

Abstract: 'LEST WE FORGET…….the Sacrifice, the Endurance, the Architecture: Cellular Jail': Architecture is not just a structure of bricks and cement but is like a piece of music that influences emotions, conveys feelings, creates an atmosphere where either we flow with its rhythm of being exceptionally beautiful or get perplexed with it being exceptionally arrhythmic. Architecture is associative with the emotional character it conveys. Buildings trigger our emotions and envelop us in the sense of passion and intensity they behold. A building if ignites the feelings for the purpose it is designed for I would call it no less than a masterpiece. One such masterpiece I experienced which is less talked about is Cellular jail, Port Blair. As the flight descends over an overwhelming panoramic view of deep blue seas, pristine white beaches and the wheels gurgle, ready to touch the ground my eye catches the board 'Veer Savarkar International airport'. That very moment, I get inquisitive to know about the legacy of Veer Savarkar and much more who braved the so-called 'Saza - e - kaala pani'. Yes, the three-hour-long flight from Chennai brings me to the land of Port Blair, the place which though has unmatched beauty and is a gateway to tranquility for many today was once a living hell for Indians.

Jurors for this Series were:

Prof Krishna Rao Jaisim: Principal Architect Jaisim-Fountainhead

Ar. Pappal Suneja: Freelance Architectural Journalist, India

Ar. Sarbjit Bahga: Chief Architect Bahga Design Studio, Chandigarh

Dr. Gauri N.Shiurkar: Principal, McGAN'S Ooty School of Architecture

Top Image © Pappal Suneja

> via Architectural Journalism Competition Series