JOURNALISM TROPHY 2012

Writing Architecture Competition Himanshu Burte Theme: Footprint The Writing Architecture competition will have two stages.

a) Essay competition: The first will be the essay competition which whose results will be announced at the NASA convention. b) Seminar: The judges will also select six entries (including the top 3 prize winners) from the essay competition to participate in the second stage. This will be a non-competitive seminar where the each of the six selected author teams will present and defend their essay in a 20 min illustrated presentation in front of the audience of delegates and the essay competition judges.

Brief for the Essay Competition The practice of architecture is often thought to be largely about making an impression. Glossy magazines, stylish films and charismatic architects often persuade us that architecture must surprise, startle and challenge us to really count. It must instantly make a strong impression on our minds and leave an indelible footprint of its intent in our imagination and memory. Only when it does so, does it count as architecture, as art. And counting as art is all that counts, so you must make that impression whatever the cost.

Cut to home. Or any other place we make ours easily. Such places- they could be homes, institutions, workplaces , gardens , forests, what have you- are the refuges from which we engage the world confidently. We feel a sense of emotional connection with them, as well as a sense of welcome. And we may or may not think them beautiful, or striking, works of art. Rather, it is as if these places continually arrange and rearrange themselves in spirit to receive our impression. In them, we feel happy, in control, and empowered that is, at home. And quite frankly, we dont give a damn if they are art or not.

National Association of Students of Architecture 55th Annual NASA Convention Journalism Trophy 2012

JOURNALISM TROPHY 2012 Cut to our big home, our planet. Everything we do marks the earth and has big and small implications for the biosphere. Whether we know it or not, whether we care or not, every brick we make disturbs some land, alters some ecology, and threatens somebodys food. Whether we care or not, every building we make (whether it is art or not), and every home we dwell in leaves an impression upon the earth, and upon others living in our day and in the days to come. Today we know, much of that impression has been exceptionally destructive in the last two centuries.

So, which impression, which footprint, are we to watch out for when we design? Do we focus on making an impression through architecture as art whatever the cost? Or do we concentrate on creating a home that receives the dwellers impression, not try and make one on him or her? Or do we only try and reduce the ecological footprint of our buildings, and let art or home happen if they will? Oh, and one more question to add to this list: Can we try and think of all three at the same time through our architecture?

Here is the brief for the essay, then: choose a building (or a small, identifiable cluster of buildings) in use, of whatever age and kind, that you have personally experienced and that offers interesting insights into the above questions. Through your approximately 1500 word essay, reflect on what the building, its history, design, physical condition, the way it is used and valued, have to say about the above questions. Let the essay be a record of your explorations as well as a well argued statement of your beliefs about how we should build. And remember, there is no proposition or opposition category that your essay needs to fit into this time!

Other binding rules of the essay competition:

1. Every college can send in a maximum of 5 (five) entries. 2. A maximum number of 3 clearly identified students can work on each entry. 3. The entry should be submitted in the format specified so that the identity of the team members, the team or the institution they belong is not revealed to the judges. 4. No visuals should accompany the essay.

National Association of Students of Architecture 55th Annual NASA Convention Journalism Trophy 2012

JOURNALISM TROPHY 2012 5. The entry code shall be of the form NASA:WAT: COLLEGE CODE:01 FOR ENTRY NO 1. Similarly for entry no 2 from a college the code would be NASA: WAT:COLLEGE CODE:02 6. Soft copy of the text is to be sent by email on journalism@nasaindia.info 7 The entry should be accompanied by a letter from the HOD / Principal on the college letterhead with the name / s of the authors and the institution. 8 Eligibility Format Margins -10mm on top, bottom and right; 15mm on the left. 9. Calibri (body) font, font size 12 1.5 spacing between the lines 10. NASA logo shall be at bottom right of all the pages of the entry in accordance with the NASA logo guidelines. 11. The author / s will give a written declaration stating that the work is the original intellectual property of the respective author, and will be solely responsible and Liable in case the work has violated any copyrighted material, and if any matter is sourced from anywhere, due acknowledgement has to be given. 12. The entries will adhere to the United Nations Declaration of Universal Human Rights, as set out in http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html, and will only contain strictly non controversial subject matter, in particular, will not under any circumstances, contain any references, terms, statements, claims, allegations, accusation, misrepresentations, misinformation, disinformation, abuse, of any race, language, class, society, community, creed, etc. 13. Any such entry violating this provision will be disqualified forthwith, and will put at risk further participation in NASA activities of the entire student delegation from which the said violator is part of. 14. All decisions in this matter will be binding on all authors which would be at the final and sole discretion of the NASA WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY Moderator NASA Convention 2012. 15. All entries will be the property of NASA Council, which will be free to utilise the same in any manner at any time, during or after the NASA WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY competition period, and the original author will have no claim on the same after the entry is sent for the said competition. 16. The entry code should be mentioned in the bottom right corner of each page just to the left of the NASA logo.Entries should not have any mention of the college name or college code in the main write up.

National Association of Students of Architecture 55th Annual NASA Convention Journalism Trophy 2012

JOURNALISM TROPHY 2012 Dates and schedule Entries accepted 0000 hours IST September 8, 2012. Last date to raise queries: 0000 hours IST August 8, 2012

Criteria for judgement: 1. 2. 3. 4. Choice of building, and the strength and quality of the related argument. Soundness of research Quality of writing Overall relevance and quality of the essay

National Association of Students of Architecture 55th Annual NASA Convention Journalism Trophy 2012