Professional Practice VI

Architectural Competitions

SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE, NEW

DELHI
February 2010

Beneficiary
Society
Promoter
Architectural Profession
Architect

Society
Generation of new idea
Development of new thinking

Promoter
Assessment / feasibility of program
Assessment of site potential
Alternative concepts
Best design chosen by Architects
Selection of an Architect on merit

Profession
Initiation of new concepts/ trends
Promotion of good architecture
New bench marks of standard of
service
Identification of new talent

Architect
Opportunity to
Demonstrate talent
Research
Methodically undertake design exercise
Team up with other architects
Work with subject specialists

Winning a competition creates an image in society

Winning a competition opens up career
opportunities

Competition When
Project of importance
National
Regional/State
Societal

Types of competitions
Participation
Open
Limited

Purpose
Idea
Selection of an Architect

Type
One stage
Two stage

Open competition
Open to all architects, irrespective of

Age
Experience
Expertise
Establishment
Head quarters

Limited competition
Open to limited number of Architects
Short listing based on
Experience
Expertise

Key players
Promoter
Professional Advisor
Assessor
Architect (competitor)

Promoter
Appoint Professional Advisor
Appoint Assessors & define their fee
Define schedule
Define prize money
Promise to appoint the author of the winning
design as Architect of the project
Exhibition of the entries
Return of non winning entries

Professional Advisor
Prepare design brief
Provide site information to the
competitors
Conduct the competition as per
schedule

Assessors
Majority must be of Architects
Assessment of entries
Signing of award

Architect
Study programe & site
Design and submit entry
Maintain anonymity
Not to be related/ associated with
promoters or Assessors

Successful examples
JNU
IGNOU
GGSIPU
IGNCA
NGMA
Airports

Failed competitions
HQ of Ministry of External affairs
Suspended before award

Asthakunj
Winner not appointed after award

Rajasthan Assembly
Winner not appointed after award

IG Stadium
One architect wins but another appointed

Unethical practices
HUDCO, Low cost Housing
Employees of an assessor win

HUDA city centre, Gurgaon

Employee of an assessor wins stage I
Architect assessors not in majority
Board of assessors included COA & IIA President
o Complaints leads to disqualification of competitor
o COA President resigns from Board of Assessors
o 16 years but IIA yet to dispose of the complaint of
Professional Misconduct

Unethical Practices
Mazar of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed
Competition suspended before
receiving entries
Assessor appointed Architect

Botanical Garden, Noida

Assessor and winner associated with
each other

Promoter moves forward

DDA Mega Housing
No entry found worthy of award
Promoter offers project to Architects
whose designs were commended by the
Board of Assessors

Issues
Competitions are time consuming
Complaints of conflict of interest remain
unresolved
Failed competitions lessens the confidence of
Architects in competitions, but
Many landmark projects are outcome of
competitions
Many architects have made their career through
competitions

Presentation available on

www.slideshare.net/prmeh
ta