The Urban Revamp Design Challenge

A common scenario experienced by rapidly urbanising Indian cities today is that irrespective of their geographical location, level of development and state of economic stability, the quality of life in the public realm is extremely poor. This design challenge has been conceived by Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) and Sensing Local in partnership with the Institute of Urban Designers India (IUDI), Curiosity Alliance Foundation, and Kasturi Nagar Residents Welfare Association aims to blend technical expertise with citizen participation to reclaim and transform parts of Bengaluru through the Urban Revamp Design Challenge.

The second edition of the initiative aims to give both professionals and students from the field of architecture, urban design, public space design, spatial planning and other allied fields the opportunity to submit proposals to reimagine public spaces in two wards of Bengaluru – CV Raman Nagar (Ward 117) and Padarayanapura (Ward 168). The first edition of the challenge drew nearly 150 participants comprising urban planners, designers and architects. Winning designs were selected through presentations to city officials and experts as well as citizen voting, and the winning teams pitched their ideas to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for implementation.

The first site for this year’s challenge, CV Raman Nagar builds on the idea of place-making where the aim is to revamp a long-defunct space under and alongside a flyover – an 'urban void', and design it to become more functional and usable by the residents of the neighbourhood. 

The other site, an active public square at a road intersection in Padarayanapura, builds on the idea of place-keeping, where the aim is to strengthen the existing character and improve the functionality of a happenstance urban square that has organically been appropriated into shared public space and is used by several groups of residents and visitors in the neighbourhood.

Entries for the challenge can be submitted as a team of individuals or as a firm/ office. At least one member of the team should be residing in Bengaluru or be able to commute to Bengaluru for the public engagement events (visioning workshop and presentation to the community, if shortlisted).

Interested teams can find the design brief, competition and registration details in the following link: www.urbanrevamp.in 

The deadline for registration is May 26, 2023. The top two entries from each site will be given a prize money of INR 30,000 for first place and INR 20,000 for second place.