open-idea-national-competition-2025 – INHAF Habitat Forum India

Q: Schedule

Last Date of Registrations : 15th July 2025 Submission : 15th August 2025

Q: Awards

1st Prize : ₹ 75,000 (for each vertical) 2nd Prize : ₹ 50,000 (for each vertical) Special Mentions by Jury Prize- Rs. 40,000 (for exceptional innovation)

The Open Ideas National Competition 2025 – Season V on Improving Livability of Small Houses organised by Habitat Forum [INHAF] in partnership with Sustainability Initiatives[SI] seeks to engage practising architects, interior designers, planners, engineers and senior students of these faculties; related Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs); Government agencies; Professionals working on slum-upgrading and slum rehabilitation, and others with innovative ideas in developing proposals on Improving the Livability of Small Low-cost Housing. The competition aims to share innovative ideas and solutions with field agencies, both public and private, implementing projects such as PMAY [Pradhan Mantri Aavas Yojna] and other affordable housing schemes with a view to improve the design of the houses being built in our cities.
The Competition also intends covering current and past In-situ Slum Improvements Projects and Slum Rehabilitation Projects to seek ideas on improving project design, planning, financing, and implementation of such projects.

The competition seeks innovative ideas in the challenging domain of designing small houses. It also aims to draw attention and raise awareness that:

1. The inadequate size dictated by affordability constraints could be stretched through innovations in planning, designing, and construction
2. People-centric project planning should include psychological, social, cultural and life-style factors as also the participative/ consultative practice
3. Sustainable aspects of water and energy conservation and waste management should be an integral part of the project design
4. Buildings should add constructively to the larger urban landscape, and
5. Emphasis should also be on the ‘community’ aspects of living

This competition seeks to address the challenges faced in the supply of liveable yet affordable houses in India. Innovations are sought to deliver:

Better Designed Small Houses
Better Functioning Buildings with Sustainable Services And Green Building Parameters
Better Relating Neighbourhoods
Better Managed Community Spaces To Facilitate Community Living
Better Functioning Urbanscape

The competition also seeks ideas on making the building bye-laws more realistic and sensitive to the needs of small apartments and low-cost housing. It also asks competition participants to identify and present innovative ideas and solutions created and adopted by residents in their homes to improve liveability. The main emphasis of the competition is on practical, doable, and implementable ideas.

A glimpse from last year's Competition.

Meet the Jury!

Download the design brief

More information about the competition components and the deliverables are available in the detailed brochure. Click here to Download.

Schedule

Last Date of Registrations : 15th July 2025
Submission : 15th August 2025

Submission

Your entries can be submitted in PDF format with a maximum size of 12MB. The deadline to submit is 15th August 2025. For more details, please refer the Competition Brochure.

Awards

1st Prize : ₹ 75,000 (for each vertical)
2nd Prize : ₹ 50,000 (for each vertical)

Special Mentions by Jury Prize- Rs. 40,000 (for exceptional innovation)

Download Sheet Templates

Please use the following sheet templates for the submission. Click here to dowalod the Sheet Templates.

Registration Open

REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

Days

Hours

Minutes

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The competition is open to Architects, Engineers, Planners, Interior and Furniture Designers, Students of above Faculties, Non-Governmental Organisations in the settlement development sector, Government Agencies, Professionals working on slum upgrading and slum rehabilitation, Designers and shelter providers from the Informal sector, both local and international. Participants can participate in the competition either as individuals or as a team or firm/agency.

Please click here for FAQs. For further queries/clarifications/suggestions etc. please contact the organisers at competition@inhaf.org
Contact Person : Chitrakshi Shirke, +91 9455001026

Media Partner ArchitectureLive!

Registration Open

REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

Please click here for FAQs. For further queries/clarifications/suggestions etc. please contact the organisers at competition@inhaf.org
Contact Person : Chitrakshi Shirke, +91 9455001026

Media Partner ArchitectureLive!

INHAF is a Public Charitable Trust and donations to it get tax exemption under Section 80 G of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
INHAF is also registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010.

Ar. Kirtee Shah is the founder president of India Habitat Forum (INHAF), a twenty year old national network of habitat professionals and civil society organizations; founder chairman of Home Losers’ Service Association of Ahmedabad (HOLSAA; set up following the earthquake in Gujarat in 2001); president of Bangalore based Institute for Cultural Research and Action (ICRA) for the past 30 years; one of the founders of the Ashoka Innovator for the Public, which now has a presence in more than 90 countries of the world and is engaged actively with the institutional development activities of Citynet and Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR).

As a member of the Prime Minister appointed National Commission on Urbanization (NCU) in the mid 80’s, he chaired a Working Group on Urban Poverty in India. Founder Director of Ahmedabad Study Action Group (ASAG; an NGO he set up with other likeminded colleagues and leads for the past 48 years).

Kirtee Shah

is the founder President of India Habitat Forum (INHAF). He has been on several committees set up by the Planning Commission of India; was on the Board of Directors of HUDCO, and has consulted with several UN agencies, the World Bank, CDIA and others. He was advisor to the GOI’s 50,000 houses project for the war victims in Sri Lanka and Chaired a Committee, set up by HUDCO, for the Rejuvenation and Strengthening of the Building Centres Network in India. He is Chairman and Chief Architect of KSA Design Planning Services Pvt Ltd., an Ahmedabad based firm of practicing architects.

Anagha Paranjape-Purohit

is an architect – environmental planner with more than 12 years of professional experience in the field of Architecture, Sustainable Design and Urban-Environmental Planning and is a Director (Partner) at VK:e environmental, Pune. A Graduate of Pune University and Arizona State University, Anagha has multinational experience in countries like USA, India and Sweden. Anagha is also an academician and teaches post graduate programs in Architecture, Energy and Environment. She also conducts training on diverse themes such as Green Buildings, Environmental Impact Assessments, Urban Air Quality Management Solid Waste Management, Green Productivity and Sustainable Architecture. She is a member of various Boards and Committees at national and local level in the areas of Green Buildings, Urban Planning and Energy Efficient Buildings. Anagha is an empaneled expert with Bureau of Energy Efficiency, is a GRIHA Trainer and IGBC Evaluator. Additionally, she is involved in the Development Plan for the city of Pune and framing of environmentally sensitive Development Control Rules for the city. Through Sustainability Initiatives, Anagha is active in creating white papers on Indian cities, policies and frameworks that are used for influencing and making urban policy in India. She serves on various National and State level committees on Sustainability issues, Environmental Planning and Green Buildings. She writes a blog (anaghaspeaks.blogspot.com) which focuses on urban issues faced in Indian cities.

Dwaipayan Chakravarty

is an Architect and Urban Designer based in Pune, Maharashtra. After completing his M.Arch (Urban Design) from School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi in 2005, he had been working as a Senior Architect in some prominent firms of Pune, after a memorable stint with Council of Architecture’s academic unit – NIASA. Later, after 5 years as the Senior Masterplanner at Associated Space Designers Pvt. Ltd., masterplanning large acreage special townships like Nanded City, Life Republic and Oxford Oasis Golf City, he moved on to VK:a Architecture as an Associate, where he looks after a large number of interesting Architectural and Urban Design projects, including Townships. He has taught Urban Design at some prominent schools of architecture in Pune, and remains in touch with teaching and academics. Dwaipayan both specialises and is deeply interested in urbanism, urban design & planning, real estate dynamics, relationship between city & society, architectural education, architectural journalism and technology, and writes frequently on these subjects in various online & print magazines and blogs

Gita Balakrishnan

Founder of Ethos and Founding Trustee of the Ethos Foundation, is a tireless advocate for design-led change. She has walked across India and into Bangladesh to raise awareness about the transformative power of good design. Her initiative, Walk for Arcause, is a nationwide campaign that seeks to connect people with the idea that thoughtful, empathetic, and sustainable design can deeply impact lives and communities. Through this journey, she has highlighted the crucial role architects and designers play in solving real-world problems—from disaster rehabilitation and housing to education and public health. Gita believes in the power of design thinking not just to build structures, but to shape resilient societies. While many architects work with concrete and steel, Gita builds stories, nurtures young minds, and seeds powerful ideas that resonate across the Architecture, Construction, Engineering, and Design (ACED) community. Her work bridges practice and pedagogy, sparking a culture of purpose-driven design among the next generation of professionals. With an unwavering commitment to this cause, she continues to champion design as a catalyst for social transformation.

Ankur Anil Pandhe

is a dynamic leader in the affordable housing sector, with extensive experience in conceptualizing and successfully executing mass housing projects at the national level. He is adept at identifying market opportunities, land acquisition, project planning and design, government policy formulation in affordable housing, housing loans, construction technology, and project execution. He holds an MBA in Finance from the Rochester Institute of Technology, New York, and a degree in Civil Engineering from the Walchand Institute of Technology, Shivaji University.

Geeta Vaidyanathan

is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Management with extensive academic and research experience in the fields of environmental planning, resource management, and sustainable development. She completed her Master’s in Environment and Resource Studies (2002) from the University of Waterloo, Canada, where she developed a strong foundation in environmental systems thinking and interdisciplinary approaches to resource challenges. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in Geography and Environmental Management (2009) from the same institution, focusing on the dynamic interface between human activities and environmental systems. Her research interests span climate change adaptation, natural resource governance, environmental policy, and socio-ecological resilience. Over the years, she has contributed to various national and international research initiatives, collaborated with governmental and non-governmental organizations, and published in reputed journals. In addition to teaching, she actively mentors students and professionals in the field, encouraging evidence-based, community-driven solutions to environmental issues. Through her academic leadership and commitment to sustainable development, Geeta continues to shape the next generation of environmental professionals.

Vivek Rawal,

Founder Member and Director of People in Centre, is a dedicated practitioner in the field of community-centric urban development and disaster risk reduction. He leads the thematic areas of “Reinforcing People’s Capacities to Reduce Disaster Risks” and “Reclaiming Urban Space for the People”, focusing on building resilience and promoting equity through inclusive urban strategies. With a strong grounding in participatory approaches, Vivek emphasizes the role of communities as active agents in shaping their built environments, especially in the context of vulnerability and post-crisis recovery. He coordinates and leads multidisciplinary projects across India and South Asia, related to post-disaster needs assessments, housing reconstruction, climate-resilient infrastructure, and the integration of sustainable building technologies. His work spans both rural and urban contexts, bridging the gap between policy and grassroots implementation. With a people-first perspective, Vivek advocates for inclusive urban planning processes, ensuring the voices of the marginalized are central to planning and design. His contributions have informed guidelines and best practices in the sectors of social housing, participatory community planning, and urban resilience, and he continues to mentor young professionals and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, and academic institutions.

Maartje van Eerd

is a Human Geographer by profession with extensive experience as a researcher, trainer, and advisor on housing and social development issues. Her PhD research focused on the governance aspects of resettlement in Chennai, India. Her main research interest and expertise is in housing rights, displacement and resettlement, livelihoods and gender. Besides conducting long-term research on the impact of resettlement and incremental development, in collaboration with Anna University in Chennai, she has produced a documentary on the gender impact of resettlement. She has conducted training and advisory work and research mostly in Asia and Africa, amongst others, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mexico, Myanmar, South Africa, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, China, Nigeria, Kenya, Brazil, Turkey, Nepal, Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, United Kingdom. Her current work is on access to (digital) information, gender and inclusion and livelihoods in resettlement.

Monica Albonico

is the Principal at Albonico Sack Mzumara Architects and Urban Designers (ASM). She studied architecture at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, National University of Córdoba, and holds a Master’s degree in Urban Design from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Monica has taught at the University of the Witwatersrand, the National University of Córdoba, and the National University of Buenos Aires. She is a founding member of PLANACT, a Johannesburg-based NGO focused on urban development policy and community-based projects, and of TIPU, an urban projects research unit at the University of Córdoba. With over 30 years of experience, Monica has led the coordination and implementation of integrated urban design frameworks, precinct plans, strategic development strategies, and the design of public spaces, special facilities, and urban fabrics—since co-founding ASM in 1986. Her work spans across Africa and internationally, combining practice with research on inner-city regeneration and sustainable neighbourhood development. Over the past decade, she has led major projects on intermodal transport nodes and facilities in Johannesburg and Durban, with her work featured in both local and international publications. Currently, Monica is engaged in a range of architectural and urban design projects, including large-scale greenfield mixed-use developments, commercial and residential projects, and precinct strategies for the Johannesburg Property Company and other public sector agencies.

Gautam Bhan

is an urbanist whose work focuses on urban poverty, inequality, social protection and housing. He is currently Associate Dean, IIHS School of Human Development, as well as Senior Lead, Academics & Research, at IIHS. Gautam’s previous research has focused on evictions, citizenship and inequality in Delhi, and at IIHS, he continues to work on questions of access to affordable and adequate housing. He anchors IIHS’ role as a National Resource Centre with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India. He is also a part of IIHS’ work in affordable housing policy and practice, having worked with housing rights movements across the country as well as state governments in Karnataka, Delhi, Rajasthan and Odisha. His new work engages with regimes of urban welfare and social security, including work on urban health. At the School of Human Development, he is building research and practice on questions of the design and delivery of social protection entitlements within urban India. He also has a deep and abiding interest in new urban and planning theory from the South. He has written various academic articles and also writes frequently in public intellectual spaces. He holds a PhD in urban studies and planning from the University of California, Berkeley.

A glimpse from last year's Competition.

Meet the Jury!

Kirtee Shah

Anagha Paranjape-Purohit

Dwaipayan Chakravarty

Gita Balkrishnan

Geeta Vaidyanathan

Vivek Raval

Maartje Van Eerd

Gayatri Ratnam

Monica Albonico

Gautam Bhan

Registration Open

Registration Open