Community-Based Busking Café Design

Architecture Competitions 2024

ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION
Community-Based Busking Café Design

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).Premise

Cultivating local talent and fostering community spirit through architectural design is the heart of this competition. The challenge is to design a community-based busking café that provides a platform for individuals, particularly those in the arts and creative sectors, who may struggle to gain visibility and support. This café should be a welcoming, vibrant space where these talented individuals can showcase their skills, engage with the community, and build meaningful connections.
Objective

Participants are tasked with creating a multifunctional space that serves as a café and a hub for creative expression. The design should include performance areas, exhibition spaces, and collaborative zones that support and celebrate local talent. The café should be a place where individuals, especially those facing isolation and financial hardship, can come together to thrive both creatively and economically. The design should emphasize inclusivity, accessibility, and the nurturing of a community spirit.
Constraints

The design must include at least one performance area, one exhibition space, and one collaborative zone.
The café should be designed to accommodate a diverse range of artistic performances, from music to visual arts.
Accessibility for all members of the community, including those with disabilities, must be considered in the design.
The design should be sustainable, with a focus on environmentally friendly materials and energy efficiency.

Site

Participants can choose a location in their own city or town, or they can create a fictional site. The chosen site should reflect the needs and characteristics of the local community it intends to serve. Participants should provide a brief description of the site and why it was selected.
Schedule and Fees

Early Registration: 10th October 23:59 GMT UTC ($30 USD)
Regular Registration: 10th November 23:59 GMT UTC ($45 USD)
Late Registration: 25th November 23:59 GMT UTC ($60 USD)
Submission Deadline: 25th November 23:59 GMT UTC
Results Announced: 25th December

Submission Requirements

2 x A1 Sheets explaining the value proposition or the design (each PDF with at least 150dpi – Max. 20 MB)
An optional 1-2 min Video explaining your design concept (content in the video has been left to the participant’s consideration)
Participate in teams of 1-3 Individuals (Multiple Registrations Allowed using different Email IDs and Phone Numbers)
The final PDF must be named ‘team-.pdf’ (for example, team-1234.pdf if your team code is ‘1234’) and should be uploaded on Google Drive Dropbox OneDrive or any similar online file handler with ‘Public Access’ setting as ‘Enabled’
The final video must be named ‘team- | Seek Fanatic Competition #seekfanatic and uploaded as an ‘Unlisted’ video on YouTube (Choose ‘Mark as not made for kids’ while uploading)
The content in sheets should be free of any plagiarism (except collages and human cutouts in renders)
Submitted content must not include any information which exposes details of the participant or the region the participant resides in
Seek Fanatic logo must be postfixed to the video for 3 seconds with black background
Team Number is the same as your Order Number (4-digit code) after payment of registration fees.

Note: Failing in compliance with any of the above requirements will lead to disqualification of the respected team from the competition, with a notification email to the registered email id of the team leader.

AWARDS

Prizes & Grants

Winner x 1: $1000 + Certificate + Publication in our Annual Issue + Blog Post
Runners Up x 4: $250 + Certificate + Publication in our Annual Issue + Blog Post
Participation Certificates for all teams

SCHEDULE

Schedule and Fees

Early Registration: 10th October 23:59 GMT/UTC ($30 USD)
Regular Registration: 10th November 23:59 GMT/UTC ($45 USD)
Late Registration: 25th November 23:59 GMT/UTC ($60 USD)
Submission Deadline: 25th November 23:59 GMT/UTC
Results Announced: 25th December