SqrFoot House (Background): The growing issue of homeless people around the world is one that needs to be tackled on a war footing. As our cities grow, each of them are occupied by a diverse narrative of migrants who make the city their home. A third of all urban dwellers worldwide – 1.2 billion people – lack access to safe and secure housing. The gap is worst in lower and middle income countries, where some cities are growing so quickly that governments cannot build out services and infrastructure fast enough to accommodate new arrivals. The result is millions living in inadequate conditions and fraying trust in governments.
The Brief: Affordability is a fundamental challenge faced by our most successful cities. Where supply cannot keep up with demand; there are often a lot forces at work, and technology has the potential to help mitigate all of them. To design effective experiences that achieve positive social change, we need design principles that integrate the systems and Human Centric Design approach. Firstly, We need to understand the challenges faced by the migrants and people who need it. Secondly, we have to understand the idea of design itself – a design so efficient which can be multiplied and drive individual actions, which, when performed by many individuals, drives wide-scale, societal change. Affordable house starts with the design phase itself, an integrated design approach by the designer is very much essential during the early phase of the project.
The Challenge: We aim to impact at least one needful family by using design as a tool to create sustainable and affordable product. We are focusing on 4 major problems faced by homeless migrants :- 1). Affordability : Access to safe and secure housing which is easy on pocket and doesn’t brand itself as housing for the poor but an asset which is useful for everyone. 2). Mobility & Portability : Floating population/seasonal migrants, who might not want to invest in property – an immovable illiquid asset, no matter how subsidized or cheap it is, we need a mobile/ portable solution which is designed with innovative technologies. 3). Sustainability and Scalability : A design solution which sustains not just the weather conditions but is easy to maintain and can be replicated to bring a scalable change. 4). Economic Opportunity : Can this new product design generate revenue either for the Individual/family living in it or the government?
Design Program: A good modular design concept can definitely save up a lot and the productivity will be much higher in modular design, thus the tenements can be delivered on time: A small house for a family of 4 members not exceeding an area of 225 Sqft and maximum height of 9 feet, the lesser the area – the better. The shape of the house is not restricted but it shouldn’t exceed the total cubic feet volume (225 Sqft. X 9 Ft.). Basic amenities like sleeping area for 4 members, Kitchen and toilet to be provided. Not necessarily but design a product which is movable, portable and affordable. A design so efficient which can be carried, transported, fixed and dismantled when needed. You have to design a small housing colony for 50 families, combining one module with other similar modules. Your modular design should create an impact by solving the mass housing problem. The area for the colony is not restricted and you can grow either horizontally or vertically.
Awards & Recognition:- 1). 1st Prize- INR 70,000 + Certificate, 2). 2nd Prize- INR 45,000 + Certificate, 3). 3rd Prize- INR 25,000 + Certificate. Top 10 Entries except top 3 winners will be awarded INR 5,000 + Certificates. Top 3 Special Recognition and Awards for the Teachers/Mentors having maximum teams in top 30 short-listed entries. Top 30 short-listed entries will be featured on Sqrfactor’s competition winners tab + Eligible for Voting For People’s Choice Award + Digital Certificates.
Registration Requirements:- 1). Eligibility: Architects, students, engineers, product designers, thinkers, companies, organizations and everyone interested in the mission of the competition to submit their ideas. No professional qualifications are necessary. 2). Registration: Entrants may register by signing up on sqrfactor.com and then participation in the competition by paying the registration amount through a payment gateway on our website. 3). Submission Requirements: Maximum 3 A2 Sheets. Participants will have to upload the submissions on the competition page at www.sqrfactor.com in PDF format. Uploaded PDF should not be more than 20 MB.
Programme: Architecture Competition
Competition Title: “SqrFoot House | Housing For ONE”
Organized by: Team SqrFactor
Registration and Important Dates:
Early Registration: 28th March to 28th April 2018
Indian – INR 1500 (per team), International – USD 40
Standard Registration: 29th April to 13th May 2018
Indian – INR 2100 (per team), International – USD 60
Late Registration: 14th May to 20th May 2018
Indian – INR 3000 (per team), International – USD 80
Date of Submission: 28th May 2018
Announcement of Winners: 28th June 2018
Honorary Jury Panel: Yet to decide
To register and get more information please visit:
