LOUIS I KAHN TROPHY BOOK
2023-24
Published by:
National Association of Students of Architecture, India. Headquarters-School of Planning and Architecture. Department of Architecture, 6- Block-B Indraprastha Estate. Delhi, 110002
www.nasaindia.co
Copyright© NASA India 2024
All content of this book is either NASA India’s intellectual property or is shared with the parties mentioned. We have All content of this book is either NASA India’s intellectual property or is shared with the parties mentioned. We have made every effort to credit the authors and artists to the best of our knowledge and information. However, if there are any mistakes or omissions, please do not hesitate to bring them to our attention.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher.
Disclaimer:
The documention entries in this publication are a compilation of the winning entries of the Trophies hosted by NASA The documention entries in this publication are a compilation of the winning entries of the Trophies hosted by NASA India. The winners have been selected by a panel of jurors based on the information detailed in the presentation sheets and reports as provided by the participants.
The DET (Designer and Editorial Team) of National Association of Students of Architecture does not take responsibility for accuracy, technical soundness or completeness of the content of these works and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or Indirectly through the use or reliance on the content of this publication.We would like to reiterate that the views and opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASA India.
The contents of the publication are intended for general reference only and are not intended to replace the need for professional advice in a particular area.
Thank you for your continued support and readership
-DET (Designer and Editorial team), NASA India
MODERATOR’S NOTE
There is one word which is at the root of every thing, from birth to death, from practicality to spirituality and from learning to de-learning. It is also at the root of the Louis Kahn Trophy and that magic word is observation.
The Yoga Vasishta of Indian Vedantha, Budhha, J Krishnamurti and all have emphasized why observation is critical for self realisation. Most students of architecture also have heard it within the first few days of joining the architecture course. However not all subjects during the 5 years course focus on observation, which is curricular, hence acceptable.
In NASA however, we have one trophy which will let the students down if they can’t observe - the famous Louis Kahn Trophy, fondly called the LIK trophy. It expects the participants to realise architecture, which professionally speaking is comparable to realising the self in philosophy. Afterall, every building that architects design, is a manifestation of the architects themselves. If we are not connected to our creation, then we cannot claim the building as our design .
This understanding of the structure begins with observing it, later measuring, drafting, analysing and fulfilling the other requirements of the LIK brief. Story as History - Monuments as Narratives, the theme for the 66th NASA in manyways connotes and connects to spiritual philosophy. Listening to the story of a monument, feel it’s soul and to realise that buildings are not simply an assemblage (the overall theme of 66th NASA) of bricks and stones, but a narrative of time is to walk us along a path of deep contemplation, to realise that we too have a soul and are a narrativeof our own life time .
This compilation of shortlisted entries to LIK trophy comes to the readers with such a message - lets learn how to realise a monument and there upon learn how to realise ourselves. To that end, let us observe.
Thanking NASA for giving me an opportunity, wishing all young students and graduated architects a future of contentment and creations ,
Warmly
Prof. Sathya Prakash Varanashi, Ecological Architect, Bangalore LIK Trophy Coordinator
Prof. Sathya Prakash Varanashi studied architecture in Bangalore, urban design in Delhi and heritage conservationin England. He is involved in academics, outreach activities, freelance writing, professional associations and numerous NGO initiatives. Right from his early days, he was attracted to designs ideas rooted in cost, culture, climate and creativity, thanks to the influence of architects such as Laurie Baker, Shankar Kanade, K. Jaisim, A.G.K. Menon and K.T. Ravindran. His consultancy firm, Sathya Consultants, in Bengaluru has been professing and practising ecofriendly cost-effective architecture for the last 26 years.
PREFACE
As an aficionado of our Built Heritage’s Conservation, Restoration, and Adaptive Reuse, this year’s Louis I Kahn Trophy presented an engaging and challenging brief. The entries we received were a testament to the dedication, creativity, and technical expertise of students across India, who delved deep into understanding and documenting the essence of our architectural legacy.
The Louis I Kahn Trophy, in the 66th year, remains a cornerstone of NASA India’s efforts to promote the documentation, analysis, and conservation of our nation’s architectural heritage. This trophy challenges participants to move beyond the surface, engaging with the historical, cultural, and spatial narratives that define our built environment.
Documentation is not just about recording the physicality of buildings—it is an act of storytelling that captures their essence, significance, and relevance. It bridges the past and present, ensuring that future generations inherit the knowledge and spirit of these spaces. By understanding and conserving our built heritage, we celebrate our diverse identity and contribute to sustainable practices that respect the resources and wisdom of the past.
As an organization representing architectural students across India, NASA has consistently championed the cause of heritage conservation. The Louis I Kahn Trophy has long served as a platform to nurture a sense of responsibility among students to become future custodians of the built environment. This year’s submissions reflect this dedication, showcasing how adaptive reuse and restoration can revitalize ourheritage whilepreserving its integrity .
This journey is not just a competition—it is a movement to conserve and celebrate the stories etched in our architecture . Congratulations to all the participants!
Evanthika Pereira
66th Year Zonal President, Zone 5
FOREWORD
The Louis I Kahn Trophy has, over the years, established itself as an iconic initiative, challenging students to critically engage with India’s vast architectural heritage. The 66th edition of this trophy once again emphasized the importance of conserving and documenting our built environment, urging students to look beyond the surface and uncover the stories, histories, and cultures embodied in these structures .
This year’s brief invited participants to explore the intricate balance between tradition and transformation. It required them to analyze architectural heritage not only as static monuments but as living entities that adapt, evolve, and interact with their surroundings. The submissions reflect an array of unique perspectives—some reimagined forgotten spaces, others proposed adaptive reuse models that honored the past while making them relevant for contemporary needs .
As the Trophies Head of NASA India, it has been a privilege to oversee this journey of exploration and learning. The students’ innovative approaches, grounded in a deep respect for the past, have been inspiring. This book is a celebration of those efforts, offering valuable insights into how today’s architectural students envision a future where heritage and progress coexist harmoniously .
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our Trophy Moderator for his time in curating this challenging brief, the jury members for their invaluable feedback, the mentors who guided the participants, and the students whose tireless efforts made this trophy exceptional. My deepest gratitude goes to the NASA India Council, whose support ensured the success of this endeavor.
Together, we preserve not just buildings, but the soul of our collective identity.
Nikhil Ahir
66th Year Trophies Head
66th YEAR NASA India Council
Executive Council
National President - Hari S
National Secretary - Syed Abdus Samad
National Treasurer - Harrshwardhan Burrande
Public Relations - Maryam Afeefa Mehkri
Trophies Head - Nikhil Ahir
National Advisor - Tarun Krishna
Zonal Council
Zonal President Zone 1 - Abdullah Ashraf
Zonal President Zone 3 - Divya Patil
Zonal President Zone 4 - Tanuja Sunkara
Zonal President Zone 5 - Evanthika Pereira
Zonal President Zone 6 - Mani Preetham Reddy Bogolu
BRIEF
Story as history – Monuments as narratives
The 66th Year NASA India theme ASSEMBLAGE truly applies to traditional buildings most of which were built by assembling its components in stages, letting the structure evolve. Architecture by addition and accretion leads to a process of making of buildings different from today, where we now master plan the campus and pre-design every building with full detailed drawings in advance. Historic buildings were hand-built piece by piece, where every element is related to every other, small or big, by scale and proportions which meant the structure was like a kit of parts, where every part has a role even while the whole building created an image larger than any single part. As such they were heterogenous in final form, not as homogenous as are modern buildings. This is not to demean modern methods, but only to suggest the need to study the methods of past, to create newer forms of architecture today. We may still draw up the project as a master plan with conceptual mass, volume and perspective views, but can embody the spirit of the past process.
Connecting the NASA India theme, intent of trophy and the spirit of Kahn philosophy, the 66th year NASA India LIK trophy brief looks at monuments, not modern but historic for measuring the measurable and understanding the unmeasurable. It is not just to measure and draw up, but to observe and absorb, to analyze and understand, to document and to hypothetically, redesign it for adaptive reuse today. It is to listen to it’s story, to feel the soul of the building and realise that the chosen monument is not just a building of bricks and stones, but a narrative of time and history.
Accordingly, the LIK trophy theme is titled as “Story as history – monuments as narratives”.
SELECTION OF THE MONUMENT
Historic buildings, often called as monuments in India are listed, monitored and conserved by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at national level and at state level by the respective state departments, each maintaining the list of such protected monuments. However, we have lakhs of such structures, not listed and not protected which are the thematic focus in this brief. LIK trophy team should select any one such historic building, possibly not even recognized as monument and definitely not yet documented with measured drawings. It should not be a religious shrine with or without worshipping going on, landscape garden even if it has few structures within, open forts or a monument without built form, like stepwell. Basically, it should be a building with one or more floors with public, civic, residential or institutional purposes, located in any location urban or rural. It can be a semi religious structure like ashrams, spiritual centers or community-based institutions.
An individual building found as part of larger ensembles like forts, temple complexes, lake sides, heritage cities, cenotaph tombs, palaces, river fronts or residential neighborhoods can also be chosen. Choose one structure only, individually not less than 1000 sqm. in area, if we total up all roof covered area.
INDEX
01. MANDVI PORT
Mandvi , Kutch , Gujrat
Page 01-38
Z214
Faculty of Architecture, IDPT - SCET, Surat, Gujarat
CITATION - 1
02. MARTHANDA MADOM
Thiruvanthapuram , Kerala
Page 38-62
03. NARSINH VIDHYA MANDIR
Junagad , Gujrat
Page 63-80
04. THIRUVAIYARU
Thanjaur . Tamil Nadu
Page 81-110
Z604
TKM College of Architecture
CITATION - 2
Z211
Indian Education Society’s College Of Architecture
SPECIAL MENTION - 1
Z603
NIT Tiruchirappalli
SPECIAL MENTION - 2
Z214 CITATION - 1
Faculty of Architecture, IDPT - SCET, Surat, Gujarat
Our teams participation in the Louis I. Kahn Trophy competition was an unforgettable journey of customization, discovery, and creativity. Understanding the brief and finding a site with architectural and cultural significance was our initial challenge. We discovered Musafar Khana, a historic Dharamshala in the heart of Kutch, which was an enriching experience. We thoroughly documented its architectural details, sketched its unique features, and gathered valuable information through interviews with the locals about its history and significance to the community.
We proposed innovative ideas for the rejuvenation of Musafar Khana while preserving its heritage and integrating modern functionality. This challenged us to think critically about sustainability within a historical context. Our approach, including detailed documentation sheets and a comic book-style report, effectively communicated our findings and engaged all audiences in the story of Musafar Khana.
The LIK Trophy competition was a journey of personal and professional growth, enhancing our research, design, and presentation skills. It also heightened our sensitivity to architectural heritage and conservation. We take great pride in contributing to the preservation of Musafar Khana and are grateful for the opportunity to share our creativity across the country.
This experience has left a lasting impression on us as aspiring architects, inspiring us to continue advocating for the rich cultural tapestry that defines our architectural landscape.
Participants
• Chitra Tank
• Dhruv Parmar
• Diya Bhajiawala
• Falak Ajbani
• Heli Patel
• Himanshu Khatri
• Jahnvi Patel
• Janice Julian
• Jash Gevariya
• Jeet Chauhan
• Justin Sajan
• Karnik Parekh
• Maahi Panchal
• Madhav Kapadia
• Manav Mahadik
• Nafisa Mister
• Nandani Gupta
• Pari Patel
• Pooja Suthar
• Prachi Kothari
• Taher Vohra
• VishwajeetSinh Gohil
• Kartik Saraf
• Bhavya B Patel
• Himanshu Sharma
• Ishita Kapadia
• Kishan Nishad
• Krunal Patel
• Manan Desai
• Megha Patel
• Nidhi Sapariya
• Pooja Nimbhorkar
• Radhika Ghodasara
• Reem Soni
• Sakshi Sindhav
• Vatsal Dave
• Arwa Kagdi
• Yusuf Ghasia
• Shahid Khan
• Sneha DaswaniV
• Samarth Vakil
• Mayank Khatri
• Parv Malu
CITATION - 2
Z604
TKM College of Architecture
The Sankara Narayana Marthanda Madhom stands as a resplendent embodiment of the concealed annals within Travancore’s rich heritage, nestled in the heart of Trivandrum. This vestige of the historically and culturally opulent context has evolved uniquely over time. A profound exploration into the recesses of this venerable Madam unveils the hitherto undisclosed narative, weaving a tapestry of untold tales intrinsic to this monumental edifice..
Our odyssey began in the nascent months of 2023, with the challenge of deciphering the intricate LIK 66 brief. Impelled by a yearning for historical knowledge, we embarked on a pilgrimage to the Marthandam Madhom in Thiruvananthapuram. As we traversed the venerable madhom complex, layers of history unfolded before us, revealing an opportune gateway to a novel proposition. With unwavering dedication, we meticulously documented and studied the site after which we worked groups involving sleepless hours of meticulous drafting; done both manually and through software. This arduous process served as a profound testament to the power of teamwork and the boundless potential for shared learning. Our strenuous efforts in documenting the site and crafting a proposal for its adaptive reuse garnered the esteemed jury’s appreciation, culminating in the bestowal of a coveted citation amidst a cadre of brilliant participants from across the nation. The invaluable guidance of our esteemed faculty and mentors proved to be an indispensable asset throughout this endeavor. We seize this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who played a pivotal role in facilitating our journey.
Participants
• Ann George
• Abhai Korah
• Abhay Krishnan
• Abhinand
• Adarsh
• Akhila
• Amina
• Amna
• Ananya
• Ann Maria
• Archana
• Arya
• Barza
• Belinda
• Binsaya
• Catherine
• Chaithra
• Denil
• Deva
• Faheem
• Farhan
• Fathima
• Fathima N S
• Fida Fathima
• Fida P
• Gauri Suraj
• Gayathri
• Habeeba
• Hannah
• Hiba
• Irfana
• Jishnu
• Kalismeer
• Kewin
• Liyanah
• Mahith
• Marwa
• Nandana
• Naureen
• Nihal
• Pooja TB
• Poornima
• Rana
• Rashida Hana
• Rayyan
• Reem
• Ridha
• Rinsha
• Rithin
• Riya
• Ruth Joby
• Salma
• Sarangi
• Shahina
• Shazia
• Siyan
• Stephy
• Sudeep
• Thehseen
• Thejas
• Vanlalhlimpuia
• Vinayak
• Aadhideve
Z211 SPECIAL MENTION 1
INDIAN EDUCATION SOCIETY’S COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
The LIK trophy holds a significant legacy here at Z-211. Participating in the 66th LIK trophy led us through a beautiful yet equally challenging journey that exposed us to many newexperiences. It not only tested our architectural skills but also facilitated immense personal growth as students. This year’s brief required us to propose an adaptive reuse project, a concept with which we were unfamiliar. Nonetheless, we embraced this challenge and delivered to the best of our abilities.
Choosing a historical school as our site was particularly daunting because of its nostalgic significance to many in the community. We aimed to do justice to both the school and the community it had served over the years. The LIK trophy provided us with a platform to empathize with the community and honor their sentiments.
Additionally, this year’s brief included creating a comic, a field previously unfamiliar to us. Despite this challenge, we successfully produced an excellent piece that remains a source of pride for our team. Aligning with the original intent behind the school’s construction, we proposed a design that meets the current needs of the community.
Throughout this journey, the collaborative efforts of our team enabled us to persevere through long days and nights to produce high-quality submissions. Overall, our experience with the LIK trophy can be summarized as a journey of forging great friendships, gaining knowledge, and expanding our horizons.
Participants
• Ajinkya Chitnis
• Shrushti pawar
• Tanvi Jagtap
• Ritika jayakar
• Radhika Deore
• Virat dhonde
• Shweta Salunkhe
• Janhvi Kamble
• Samarth Raut
• Yavisht Khatri
• Diya Malani
• Tanvi Girap
• Chaitanya Khadapkar
• Jonathan DSilva
• kulashree dhumale
• Bhavya pasari
• Girija Mahadik
• Anitra Dhairyawan
• 19. Soham bartakke
• Sayali Rane
• Aakansha Bassi
• Chhavi Mishra
• Shreya Kumari Singh
• Sakshi Kasar
• Siddharth Nair
• Vedant Janardhan
• Drishi Gilitwala
• Kriti Airon
• Bushra Ansari
• Soham bartakke
• Ayush Sonkar
• Vatsal Chande
• Atharva Dalvi
• Siddhi Gupta
• Aabha Khedekar
• Ritika Marawar
• Ashlyn Pallath
• Rutuja Parab
• Abhishek Patwardhan
• Atharva Sawant
• Rishi Shastri
• Kimaya Shinde
• Krish Malkani
Z603 SPECIAL MENTION 2
NIT, Tiruchirapalli
It was the calling of the rivers, the music and the soul that quivers; amicably towering the citadel of Tanjore, luring Ponni to to fabricate the folklore.
Etching memories as we process, the testament of our exertion; weaving the coordinates together, on scrolls and tech improvisations.
abiding by time fate has brought, observing manipulatiions throughout; a battle of dominance to assert, substantiating our claims undaunt.
The quintessence of all the choultry, adorned with sculptures by side of country; personifying, as we respect, the soul, stands the glory of the town, sole.
Rebirth, should we name it, for overhaul that helms it; a transition from the inapt to the apt, revamping the gleam of tricentennial craft.
A fuel that propels the team towards great work and outcomes is the spirit and essence of hard work. Among all the projects undertaken by NASA, LIK demands a great team enriched with the most versatile content creators, designers, and documentation specialists, keen on observing all the nooks and corners of the structure. Gladly, we have been one such team. It was a very tedious journey, traveling across various regions of Tamil Nadu to choose the best to document. Rather, this structure chose us to ponder upon its wonder and timeless beauty: Kalyana Mahal Chathram, Thiruvaiyaru. We documented this riparian structure to our fullest capacity and interacted with people to gather dramatic folklore of the region. We explored the untold history and hidden elements, supported by the numerous books and sources we read through in the process. This helped us decode the soul of the building, its purpose, and its needs. The design process embodies the spirit and heritage of the place and structure itself. The comic is a very self-explanatory illustrative narration, bringing life to our documentation. Our sheets and report stand as a testament to the efforts and creativity our team invested. We extend our gratitude to everyone who guided us on this journey of revamping the gleam of tricentennial craft.
Participants
• Sai Keerthana Vidhya Sanjeevi
• Sivasathyan A
• Chembian B
• Shrinithi PP
• Shalom Doss S E
• Lalith Kishor SK
• Hrishikesh P
• Nikithaa Ramakrishnamurthy
• Prabhandhakavi Pranavi
• Aleena Sabu
• Rugmini B Raj
• Palakurthi Nitya Nandini
• Maadhavan
• Ragavendra Chiranjeevi
• Jyaruban Jayapandian
• Akshay Karthick S
• Raghu Varma J
• Kurle Chirag Deepak
• Pravin R
• Davidson Andrews J
• Amrrish Vishal IS
• Thigazhvizhi V G
• Rithikaa .M
• Dhanya G
• U Kaashika Mascarnaz
• Madhumithaa V
• R. Kaaviya
• J Riyazmin Fathima
We would like to express our gratitude to all the people who have made this Book possible, we also extend our regards to the Moderator, Jury panel and all the participants whose dedication to heritage has enriched our understanding of architectural history.
Website- www.nasaindia.co
Linked In- National Association of Students of Architecture (NASA India)
Instagram- @wenasaindia
Youtube- NASA India
