Pura - Designing safe interfaces between humans and nature

PREMISE

Evolution and origination of humankind have been cradled by planet earth and its range of living species. We formed a part of the ecosystem which coexisted with all other forms of fauna that had emanated from the same. Since the period of evolution began, humans attained complete consciousness in a shorter span. With this emerged an inevitable era of development, changing the scenario of the natural environment and humans that had been prevailing for centuries. 

Gradually the changing relationships of the elements, namely ecosphere and humans reiterated their composition in the environment. There was a detachment established in the wake of development. The alliance we shared was not symbiotic anymore, creating invisible barriers that had never existed previously. The distance that grew with the thriving urban domain has now asymmetrically depleted the wildlife and its diversity. 

The virtual walls that built two different environments have in a way protected and preserved the wildlife. Should the disassociation that has been built parallelly be existing as well? 

DISCONNECT

The subconscious learning that takes place due to an interaction with nature and its components is essentially invaluable. When we started building civilizations and began living in clusters, their contact with nature remained closely knit, until the past five decades. The encroachments of land for food and living became indispensable. 

Eventually, the unprecedented growth leads to the creation of a barrier that protects them from their depleting habitat. It was necessary to maintain limits to prevent a complete override by humans. The growth trajectory of humankind that we see today is inevitable which initiated this shift in the ecosystem. 

National Parks, Wildlife sanctuaries are refuge created for preserving the Fauna and Flora where the Animal diversity thrives. Such regions also house unplanned interfaces to allow us to percolate which are commonly human-centric that needs to change. 

BRIEF

A permanent solution to balance nature and mankind needs to be re-established without keeping a man as the centre of the design intervention. Instead, we need to suggest a common ground for all i.e. an-Architecture and Nature, and this be a converging point between the two acting as a virtual podium for them to blend in the environment while they interact silently?

The intervention is expected to be sensitive to the environment it has been placed in. It must ensure an open dialogue without disturbing the reserved area. Space can be an open deck, viewing centre, pavilion, or an observation centre where the visitors can absorb the constituents of natural habitat and its residents. The things that are now being built in the consciousness of the situation can be a balance of both? The participants are free to add any programmatic function to their design idea that resonates with the narrative.

OBJECTIVES

Balance: Balance between nature and mankind.

Construction: Material usage and construction techniques used must be complacent in the local context.

Sensitivity: The intervention must be sensitive to the environment it is being built in.

SITE: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Learn more on https://uni.xyz/competitions/pura/info/about

YEARBOOK

Winners of this competition will get annually published with us in our e-yearbook and annual publications. 

TIMELINE

Registration Closes: 7 Dec 2020

Submission Deadline: 8 Dec 2020

Result Announcement: 04 Feb 2021

PRIZES

Prize pool of worth 16,000$

First Prize: 3800$ (For students and professionals)

Runner Up: 6 x 1000$ (For students and professionals)

People’s Choice: 4 x 350$ (Open for all)

Honorable Mention: 12 x 400$ Each

Learn more about this competition - schedule - prizes here: 

http://uni.xyz/competitions/pu... 

Follow us on -

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/unide... 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uni....

Linked In:  https://www.linkedin.com/compa...