An architectural competition is announced to build a large office and warehousing complex for a mining company at their mine site. The office complex is also expected to undertake research activities on the minerals that are mined along with geomorphological studies. The competition invites architects from across the world to submit conceptual designs for the first stage. The company has appointed a reputed architect to oversee that the competition follows all norms and procedures laid down by the Council of Architecture in India. This overseeing architect makes a document as a brief for the project in four parts. The first part describes the site, its history, its geography, character, terrain, vegetation, demography of the region, etc. The site appears to be beautifully located between villages and forests. It  was previously an extension of the forest and the villages, but over time, as the mining activities grew, both were cleared. The company planted equivalent trees in a nearby barren land to compensate the forest and also rehabilitated the villages in another location. The second part gives information about the mining company, its achievements, its research, its social responsibilities and other activities. The third part meticulously details the spatial requirement specifying every square meter. The last part covers the eligibility requirements, the processes, etc. A jury of distinguished architects is also appointed to review and judge the competition entries. You have received the details of this competition on social media. There is however a requirement of firms showing a large turnover to be eligible for the competition. Moreover, the brief also mentions that the winning design may or may not be implemented and fees for the same shall be negotiated. There is also some gossip about how the overseeing architect has some firms in mind and has defined the eligibility criteria to suit these firms. You and your friends have started a firm and you have figured out that if you partner with your friend’s father’s firm, then you will qualify for this competition  - what are your responses?

… It would be an excellent opportunity for young practices and we should all support this as it will raise the culture of design in the country… the company could have easily gone to any reputed architectural firm and they would have easily done it… they however decided to do a competition as per the norms of the Council of Architecture to get good designs and provide fair opportunities to all architects…




… The news of the overseeing architects favouring some firms is disturbing. The Council should be notified about this to investigate… How can one expect a fair competition with such high requirements for turnover. Only large firms can participate… There are norms for architectural fees. What is the negotiation about? And why do a competition if the company is unsure of building it…




… But one can always partner with another organization for participation. And it should be the choice of the company to finally build it even if the jury has selected - what if they don’t like the project… And in large projects there are always allegations and negotiations…

… This mining company has been aggressive in exploiting the resources. It colludes with the politicians and bureaucrats and through a regime of bribes undertakes massive deforestation and mass evictions. Moreover, after the mining activity is over, the land is completely destroyed - nothing can grow on it, nor can one live over it…




… But the company has planted an equivalent number of trees somewhere else and have also rehabilitated the people… And mining contributes a lot to the national economy and also improves standards of living by providing necessary minerals… And what does it mean - should an architect not undertake a project for any mining company? Because all clients always have these dimensions.




… The ‘equivalent plantations’ undertaken by such companies have a bad reputation - this is a namesake responsiveness as the plantations are never monitored nor maintained… Moreover, what would rehabilitation mean when you are connected to your region, your land and your forest in the way you live - livelihoods, cultural networks, and all other dimensions of life are disrupted. How would you feel if you are displaced from here and asked to live in another place because someone is interested in making money… 

… And who is the client - the person who pays for the project or the people who live through the project or get impacted by it… and what is the role of an architect if not being custodians of environment and culture? And when one thinks beyond the client, one strives for ideas of equality, freedom and justice beyond the logistics of ‘proper’ practice where fair competition in the market and guarding against financial malpractices are the only dominant parameters…




… So does it mean, one should not participate in the competition…




… No. It means that one is aware of what one is doing and then formulate one’s strategy to respond… and these responses may be in variety of ways - one can write about the company and have a larger discussion amongst architects; one can lobby with governments to set up sensitive regulations for such companies; one can intervene in developing relevant environments for the rehabilitated communities; one can undertake detailed research on replantations and their sustainabilities; one can also participate in the competition and propose ways to inhabit sites destroyed by mining, or ways in which the site can be rehabilitated by forests and villages along with the offices of the company; etc. All of these are relevant responses. Participating in the competition to design exactly what is expected is just one response - the response which is the easiest and which the market wants the architects to undertake.