Rethink Mumbai

Architecture Competitions 2024

ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION
Rethink Mumbai

BRIEF

The 'Rethink Mumbai Flooding: Open Competition and Exhibition' is a ground-breaking initiative designed to educate and empower students, architects, designers, and local communities to tackle the urgent challenges of climate change and flooding in Mumbai. This competition seeks to inspire innovative solutions that can reshape the city’s future. Rooted in the social work, teaching, and PhD research of Architect Santosh Kumar Ketham—conducted in India and Austria at the Institute of Experimental Architecture, Hochbau, Innsbruck University—this initiative embodies a fusion of academic rigor and social responsibility.

Our mission is to ignite meaningful dialogue among diverse groups about climate change and urban flooding, especially engaging those traditionally excluded from the conversation. By bringing all voices to the table, we aim to develop architecture and urban policies that are not only climate-responsive but also equitable, bridging the gap between the affluent and the underserved, the educated and the marginalized, and fostering a future of collective growth and positive transformation.

We believe in the power of visionary design to spotlight critical issues and act as a catalyst for change. Through collaborative efforts, we seek to challenge governments and policymakers to rethink their climate strategies, pushing for profound policy reforms that genuinely reflect the needs and insights of all stakeholders, particularly those on the front lines of these challenges.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION: (Open to all: Architects, Engineers, Urban Designers, Landscape Designers, and Students with innovative ideas, whether built or unbuilt).

PUBLIC EXHIBITION: 14 to 20 April 2025 – The top ten winning projects will be prominently displayed at The Bombay Art Society, one of Mumbai’s oldest and most prestigious galleries, established in 1888, where the focus will be on engaging the local community.

BOOK PUBLICATION: 20 April 2025 – The top twenty shortlisted projects will be featured in an exclusive book edition, showcasing the most innovative solutions to Mumbai’s flooding crisis.

We are calling for revolutionary ideas that address the complex issues of flooding in Mumbai. Proposals should be deeply rooted in the local context, reflecting the city’s culture, climate, and community needs, while utilising available materials. Participants are encouraged to select flooding sites within Mumbai, with project scales ranging from architectural buildings to urban and landscape designs/strategies (built, unbuilt, or speculative).

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