Louis I Kahn Trophy – 67th Year NASA India

The Louis I Kahn Trophy (LIK) has always stood as one of the most intellectually challenging trophies of NASA India, inspiring architecture students to move beyond design as a practice and engage with design as an idea. In its 67th year, the LIK brief continues this legacy by encouraging participants to search for the elemental and original essence of architecture—those intangible qualities that allow a building not just to exist, but to exclaim.

The 2024–25 theme urges students to identify and analyse architecture that communicates something fundamental, essential, and unique. This exploration goes beyond physical form and construction, delving into questions of character, genius loci, and the spirit of a building. The annual theme, “What Can a Building Exclaim?”, connects directly to this vision, inviting participants to discover architecture that resonates with originality, context, and authenticity.

Unlike conventional briefs that may revolve around functionality, LIK focuses on theory, analysis, and documentation. Students are asked to select pre-independence structures—historic, vernacular, or monumental—whose integrity remains intact. The task is not just to document plans and elevations, but also to understand the sources of design, contextual relevance, and intangible meanings embedded within.

The submission process requires rigorous documentation, analytical drawings, 3D models, field notebooks, and a detailed report, all compiled with precision and clarity. The emphasis on black-and-white panels reflects the idea of stripping architecture to its core, eliminating distractions and allowing essentials to emerge.

Coordinated by Prof. Sathya Prakash Varanashi, the trophy will be judged by an esteemed panel of jurors from across India. Selected entries will also find their way into NASA’s publications, giving students recognition that extends far beyond the competition.

More than just a trophy, LIK is an opportunity for young minds to question, theorize, and interpret architecture with depth. For students aspiring to research, academia, or master’s programs rooted in history and theory, participation in LIK can become a defining step in their journey. By engaging with the elemental, LIK continues to honor its namesake—Louis I Kahn—who believed that architecture begins where the unmeasurable meets the measurable