46th Year NASA India – Nari Gandhi Trophy Team

Celebrating the Essence of Minimalism and Authenticity of Materials

The Nari Gandhi Trophy under NASA India has long stood as a celebration of thoughtful, restrained, and context-sensitive architecture. In its 46th year, the competition once again calls upon architecture students across the country to delve deep into the essence of minimalism and material honesty, paying homage to the revolutionary spirit of Nari Gandhi, a maverick architect who believed in the organic integration of built form and nature.

Rooted in the dictum "less is more", the competition invites participants to reflect the core philosophy that shaped much of mid-20th century architecture. This was a time when the classical doctrines of architecture were re-evaluated, leading to radical innovations and a newfound appreciation for simplicity, function, and structural clarity.

Minimalist architecture, as the brief describes, is marked by its severe simplicity, free-flowing spaces, and exposed structural elements. It calls for an approach that is as introspective as it is expressive — creating spaces that are neutral yet contemplative, free of ornamentation yet rich in intent.

The 46th edition challenges teams to select a structure that embodies these ideals — a space designed with structural integrity and material honesty at its core. Importantly, the structure must exist outside the constraints of time, belonging to a past independent of the present. This presents a powerful design opportunity: to interpret and reimagine a structure not for its aesthetic appeal alone, but for how it engages with timeless architectural values.