The ongoing Covid 19 pandemic has brought to surface numerous issues with our current living paradigm, hinting at a need for alteration and amendment. The ambiguity of our condition is proof that adjustment and reorganization is the only way forward. Owing to the relevance of this scenario, Design x Design in association with Ant Studio, has launched an International Online Design Competition entitled ‘Mobitecture - habitat on the move’. 

An initiative dedicated to collaborating with various creative communities in India, Design x Design is also responsible for raising awareness on various relevant issues. They have always been instrumental in harnessing a holistic platform for the amalgamation of all design formats, for the greater good. Thus, the primary aim behind this endeavor of Design x Design is to encourage architects, students, professional designers, and all creative thinkers globally;  to put their innovative acumens at a test and concoct a layout which functions as a first step towards building our utopian world. “Humans are nomadic by instinct. In the broader evolution of humankind through time, the notion of settling down to make home and hearth is relatively a recent phenomenon that has created more problems than solved for the species. Designing a mobile habitat or a habitat on the move is an avante-garde way to allow individuals of all professions to explore the built environment of the future”, states Iftikar Mulk Chishti- Principal of Studio IF and Convenor of Design x Design. 

Along with proposing deployable residential modules, the brief of this International competition also entails an aspect of sustainability. The designed entries must cater to the immediate requisites of the environment, thus imbibing an eco-friendly approach. “To live in harmony with other forms of life on earth; and with nature as a whole should have come naturally to us, but that has not been the case”, states the Principal Architect of Ant Studio - Ar. Monish Siripurapu. Popularly known for designing projects which target to influence ‘greener’ lifestyles, Ant Studio also advocates the merge of technological advancements with sustainable solutions - to create germane built concepts. Explaining the requirement of creating ‘greener’ built structures for the competition and the world at large, Ar. Monish further elucidates, “Due to the overexploitation of resources and other toxic practices, we are at the brink of the topple. It is about time that we save this benediction called Earth, and conceive perspectives that are fresh yet comply with current contemporary obligations.”

Launched on 1st October 2020, the registrations have been now declared open for participants. The Early bird registrations will remain open till the end of this month, while the Standard registrations will be accepted until the 30th of November. A final round of late registrations will be operable till the 15th of December, which will also mark the last date for submitting all entries by participants. Individuals from all across the world; irrespective of their gender, creed, nationality, or profession may participate - singularly or in groups of three. The design brief, regulations, and terms & conditions are available on their website, in downloadable pdf formats. The esteemed panel of Jury, housing noted designers from all over the world, is to be released soon by the platform. However, the fee structure for registration and the schedule has already been published on their official website and is as follows:

Early Registration - October 01 to October 31, 2020

Indian nationals: 1,000 INR/Team

Foreign nationals: 50 EUR/Team

Standard Registration - November 01 to November 30, 2020

Indian nationals: 1,500 INR/Team

Foreign nationals: 75 EUR/Team

Late Registration - December 01 to December 15, 2020

Indian nationals: 2,000 INR/Team

Foreign nationals: 100 EUR/Team

Submission - December 15, 2020

Result - January 15, 2020

Exhibition*- January 30 to February 15, 2021

*Subject to relief in Covid-19 restrictions. 

The Winner will be awarded a cash prize amounting to 1,00,000 INR, followed by 60,000 INR for the First Runner Up and 40,000 INR for the Second Runner Up. All the above awards will be accompanied by a certificate from Design x Design and Ant Studio. Apart from this, the work of seven honorable will be published on the official website of Design x Design and awarded with certificates. 

With the world re-thinking its ways in terms of its daily displacements and familiar habits, maybe it time we re-format our homes too and be a part of more sensitive and interactive built environments. 

For more information, you can visit their website or mail your queries at [email protected]

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