G. SEN.

TROPHY || 2016 - 17

G. SEN TROPHY
TRANSFORMATION AND CONTEXTUALITY IN SENSITIVE SPACES

THE THEME
Parallel Projections as a theme for this year’s NASA, has the potential to explore ideas
of very diverse qualities. Parallel projections, in the architectural parlance, refer to plans,
sections, elevations, and other orthographic drawings. However, architecture, as we all
know is a muliti-layered process and Parallel Projections is relevant from that context as
well. Between every projection and its parallel equivalent will be a THRESHOLD. The idea
of a threshold is extremely fragile and potent at the same time. The threshold is a nebulous
area, which is why it is the birthplace of creativity. It is the ‘dawn’ and ‘dusk’ periods of the
day.

It is the ‘present’ between the ‘past’ and the ‘future’, a time to live with full awareness.
It is the ‘youth’ between ‘childhood’ and ‘adulthood’. A threshold, especially between any
two parallel projections will be a very exciting and engaging as a concept. In this G-Sen
competition we will deal with that very threshold.

There will be several parallel projections between the themes NASA India has been
exploring every year. Of these two of the most powerful themes have been ‘Contextuality’
and ‘Transformation’. Participants are asked to find the threshold between these two themes.
They have to define & elaborate it after having fully explored all possibilities, and use it as
a lens in accomplishing the tasks asked for in the brief while keeping ‘Gender Sensitivity’
as a focus.

National Association of Students of Architecture

G. Sen. Trophy 2016-17
Parallel || PrOJeCTIONS
 G. SEN. TROPHY || 2016 - 17
THEME 1 - CONTEXTUALITY
As In Nature
“Contextuality” is the theme and it also carries the value of “relevance”. With design leanings
going all over the place in search of iconic structures alone, it is about time we introspected
upon such values. If one digs a little deeper into the meaning of contextuality, one realizes
that it is a multi-faceted entity.

There is one particular facet which is largely unexplored, that being the idea of the application
of the theory of “self-similarity” prevalent in Nature, to use an analogy. It is observed that the
building blocks of Nature possess a systemic similarity.

“In Mathematics, a self-similar object is exactly or approximately similar to a part of itself

(i.e. the whole has the same shape as one or more of the parts). Many objects in the
real world, such as coastlines, are statistically self-similar: parts of them show the same
statistical properties at many scales. Self-similarity is a typical property of fractals. Scale
invariance is an exact form of self-similarity where at any magnification there is a smaller
piece of the object that is similar to the whole.” (Source – Wikipedia – Self-Similarity)

Using this as a platform, students are encouraged to explore the possibilities of discovering
“Self-Similar” frameworks which may emerge during the process of engaging with the
community.

THEME 2 - TRANSFORMATION
Through Gender-sensitivity
THE IDEA OF THE COMMONS – A value system

The ways communities get built today in Indian cities are due to state driven initiatives
largely dependent on insufficient data and practically no surveys. Little thought is given to
the public spaces generated and eventually, these degenerate into areas belonging to no
owners and therefore no value, spawning unhygienic & criminal environments.

The idea of the commons, on the other hand, embraces the following:
1) The commons cannot be commodified – if they are, they cease to be
commons.
2) Unlike private property, the commons are inclusive rather than exclusive
their nature is to share ownership as widely, rather than as narrowly,
as possible.
3) The assets in commons are meant to be preserved regardless of their
return of capital. Just as we receive them as shared gifts, so we have a duty
to pass them on to future generations in at least the same condition as we
received them. If we can add to their value, so much the better, but at
a minimum we must not degrade them, and we certainly have no right
to destroy them.

National Association of Students of Architecture

G. Sen. Trophy 2016-17
Parallel || PrOJeCTIONS
 G. SEN. TROPHY || 2016 - 17
Any transformation will require intense community participation and whole new categories
of the commons will automatically emerge on their own, simply by sincere engagement.

DESIGN BRIEF
Since youth is the threshold between childhood and adulthood, and all participants
necessarily being from this category, it will be most appropriate that the design problem
should be based on the design of a Centre for YOUTH. Please note that it has not been
mentioned as a typology. This means that participants are not limited to being within the
parameters of a typology. The idea here is to explore the needs of youth among the localities
of the Urban Poor.

THE BACKDROP
“India has one of the highest adolescent (253 million) and youth populations in the world.
The Census of India (2011) has highlighted the profile and status of the adolescent and
youth population, which constitutes a critical segment of the total population of India. Socio-
political, economic and demographic developments depend on them. The transition from
education and training to economic activity marks an important phase in the lives of youth,
who are the productive workforce of the country. The huge unemployment among youth
due to lack of skills and poverty is a long term challenge for India.

Youth is defined as those persons in the age group 15–24 years by the United Nations,
though the age range for youth may vary in different countries due to different contexts and
needs of youth. During this transitional phase, physical, educational, psychological, social
and economic changes occur in their lives. The India National Youth Policy (NYP) covers all
youth in the age group 13–35 years, which is divided into two groups, that is, 13–19 years
and 20–35 years (National Youth Policy 2003). The recent National Youth Policy has defined
youth as those in the age group 15–29 years, who comprise 27.5 per cent of the population.
Youth is a more fluid category than a fixed age-group. ‘Youth’ is often indicated as a person
between the age where she/he leaves compulsory education, and the age at which she/he
finds her/his first employment (National Youth Policy 2014).” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC4628033/

National Association of Students of Architecture

G. Sen. Trophy 2016-17
Parallel || PrOJeCTIONS
 G. SEN. TROPHY || 2016 - 17
The design process will be divided in 3 parts as follows:
1. Documentation –

Step 1 - Participants have to engage with the idea of a threshold between

the two themes as instructed.

Step 2 - After this they must define & elaborate ‘THE THRESHOLD’ after
having fully explored all possibilities and document the design thinking and
process in detail and use this as a lens in Part-2.

Step 3 - After this, they are expected to select the localities as mentioned, and
shall then be in communication with the youth (girls & boys) of this area.
Please bear in mind that ’Gender Sensitivity’ is a primary concern and shall
be addressed explicitly.

Step 4 - The process will be to interview them (please prepare appropriate

questionnaire), understand and record their areas of concern. The objective
is to record their needs in the habitat.

Step 5 - Needs should center on the need for spaces of engagement.

Step 6 - A documentation methodology will have to be evolved and presented.

25 Days program.

2. Collaboration –

After having engaged the youth in fruitful conversations, the participants will now collaborate
with the youth to create/build mock spaces of interaction and engagement as per the needs
which would have emerged from the documentation process. These design interventions in
selected spaces will have to be within the localities of their habitat. Please bear in mind that
’Gender sensitivity’ is a primary concern and shall be addressed explicitly. This process of
collaboration should also be documented (in detail as given above) by written word, audio
files, video files & photos.
25 Days program.

3. Representation –

Entirely based on the Documentation and Collaboration processes, participants are to

develop a program for the design and produce drawings for the same. The Centre for Youth
will entirely depend upon the needs of the youth. Participants are expected to wisely develop
the program in an innovative way so as to satisfy the needs as well as provide potential for
the appropriate growth and engagement of those youth.
25 Days program.

National Association of Students of Architecture

G. Sen. Trophy 2016-17
Parallel || PrOJeCTIONS
 G. SEN. TROPHY || 2016 - 17
EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACCEPTANCE OF PRESENTATIONS:

1. The participants will consider only the passages given in this brief from the earlier
themes and none other.

2. The drawings to be presented will only be parallel projections. For instance, if it

is to be a 3d it has to be either an isometric, axonometric etc. No perspective
projections allowed. Participants can explore creative means of enhancing
drawings for representations.

3. Most importantly, all presentation shall be in black & white & all shades of grey. No
color to be used, not even in the video presentations.

4. The drawings to be presented in 6 A1 sheets all in Landscape format

5. A 5 minute Video is to be produced narrating the entire story of this design exercise.

6. A space for a Laptop will be provided with every presentation where the video may
be screened. A Laptop needs to be arranged by the participating college.

7. 2 CD / DVDs with soft copy of the entire sheets and video must be submitted. One
of these is for the N.I.P.C. archives and must contain :
a) Editable version of all the sheets formatted in N.I.P.C. template (in PSD file
format)
b) Non editable format of the sheets combined in a PDF less than 10MB size
c) Video

8. All individual sheets shall have the words “G SEN TROPHY 2016 - 2017”
clearly noted. The sheets shall also bear the NASA logo, in proper specification on
the right hand bottom corner.

JUDGING CRITERIA
PART 1
1. Challenge of the selected space with respect to Gender Sensitivity,
2. Method, process and nature of the documentation and presentation as elaborated
in a step by step method in Part 1 – Documentation above.
3. Key steps – defining the THRESHOLD, using it as a lens & maintaining
‘Gender sensitivity’ as a focus.

National Association of Students of Architecture

G. Sen. Trophy 2016-17
Parallel || PrOJeCTIONS
 G. SEN. TROPHY || 2016 - 17
PART 2
1. Innovation of the Design interventions especially aimed at Gender equity,
2. Success attributed to the design interventions.
3. Potential for ACCEPTABILITY within the community. (To be separately documented.)
4. Key steps – defining the THRESHOLD, using it as a lens & maintaining ‘Gender
sensitivity’ as a focus.

PART 3
1. Scale & Potential of the selected space with respect to Gender sensitivity,
2. Public participation opportunities the SPACE invites especially aimed at Gender
equity,
3. Accessibility for women.
4. Quality of innovative thinking used in traversing the complex layers of social &
cultural diversity.
5. Overall presentation techniques used to communicate the efficacy of the design
system.
6. 15% marks shall be for the quality of the video film produced.

Note: The identity/name of the participating college should NOT feature in any way
on any of the Presentation sheets/Video. All colleges are requested to adhere to the
mentioned specifications, failing which the entry will be disqualified.

FOR ALL QUERIES RELATED TO THE SUBMISSION PLEASE CONTACT

Srivardhan Rajalingam
Vice President – NASA India
+9189037 74096
vicepresident@nasaindia.co

National Association of Students of Architecture

G. Sen. Trophy 2016-17
Parallel || PrOJeCTIONS