The term landscape is a polysemic term with multifaceted meanings across various disciplines. Geographer James Duncan describes it as both the appearance of an area and the assemblage of objects that create that appearance, while architect Patrick Nuttgens considers landscape as both a physical setting and an intellectual construct that defines human existence over time. Edward Relph adds to this understanding by viewing it as a mixture of natural and cultural, fabric and system; and change; shaped by historical, social, and ecological processes.
In the Anthropocene, humans have gained the ability to modify ecosystems, climate, and geological structures, blurring the line between natural and artificial. Yet, urban practices remain human-centric, even as challenges like air pollution, rising water levels, drought, deforestation, biodiversity loss, food security, AI, and inequality increasingly demand solutions that transcend human societies. This calls for a fundamental rethinking of urban environments—where technology, nature, and society can coalesce to address the planet's sustainability and resilience. Such emerging fields and technologies will inevitably shape future urban practices. This essay prize invites you to investigate the concept of Emerging Landscapes, an intricate assemblage of disciplines and discourses that bring about urban transitions.
Participants can draw from disciplines beyond architecture, including urbanism, heritage, and environmental studies, to reflect on the transitions they observe and envision their implications for the future. How do these evolving patterns challenge traditional norms? What might the landscape of the future look like? And what role can architecture and design play in responding to these changes?
Submission Guidelines:
Participants are required to submit an original essay of 1500-2000 words (inclusive of all elements) addressing the stated inquiries through clear and cohesive writing. The essay should feature cited examples and may include up to three photographs to support the argument.
Collaborative writing is encouraged but limited to a maximum of two members per entry. Multiple entries are not permitted. The essay should include a title and the author(s)' name(s).
Submission Format: .doc/.docx
Eligibility:
The competition is open to full-time, registered undergraduate students of Architecture, Planning, and Design from across the world.
Submission Deadline: 20/12/2024
Announcement of Results: 15/01/2024
Please send your essay along with a short bio (150 words max) to: events@avani.edu.in
Prize: Rs. 10,000/- and publication in a reputed journal.
Download the information related to this competition here.
Title
Avani Essay Prize 2024Type
Competition Announcement (Student Competitions)Organizers
Submission Deadline
December 20, 2024 12:00 AMPrice
Free