The open ideas national competition, organized by  INHAF (Habitat Forum) and supported by GRUH Finance, seeks to engage practicing architects, interior designers, planners, engineers and senior students of these faculties, related Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) and others with innovative ideas in developing proposals on improving  livability of small low cost houses or apartments being constructed by public agencies and private builders under PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana) and other affordable housing schemes and projects.

The competition seeks to present the challenge of designing small houses to the design professionals who, for various reasons, tends to keep away from such projects. 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, design and detailing
2. People-centric project planning should include psychological, social, cultural and lifestyle factors as also the participative/ consultative practice
3. Sustainability features, especially water and energy conservation and waste management must be an integral part of the project design.
4. Buildings should be aesthetically pleasing and add to the city landscape, and
5. Emphasis should also be on the ‘community aspects of living.

The competition also seeks ideas on making the building by-laws more realistic and sensitive to the needs of small apartments and low-cost buildings. It also asks competition participants to identify and present innovative ideas and solutions created and adopted by residents in their homes to improve livability.