Carl Sandburg has accurately described language as the most indispensable tool in the life of us social animals, men. Men have traversed through ages and grown into the most superior race on Earth because of their advanced linguistic and communication skills. Human language is unique in comparison to other forms of communication, as it allows us to produce a vast range of expressions and emotions from a finite set of elements.

The timeline for the development of modern day languages spans thousands of years. Sounds have developed into words, meanings, scripts, grammar, fonts and a formal system of communication called linguistics. One organization suggests that there are about 7099 living languages in the world, but which are not evenly distributed around the world geography. Only 23 languages account for more than half the world’s population. Roughly a third of languages are now endangered, often with less than 1,000 speakers remaining.

Language is much more than just a means of communication. It is also an inseparable part of our culture. In fact, language allows culture to exist. Language allows us to pass on ideas, knowledge, and even attitudes on to the next generation. Language allows culture to develop by freeing people to move beyond their immediate experiences”. Language is intrinsic to the expression of culture. As a means of communicating values, beliefs and customs, it has an important social function and fosters feelings of group identity and solidarity. It is the means by which culture and its traditions and shared values may be conveyed and preserved.

Languages are the most important part of a particular cultural heritage. As one culture dies and another grows, the same happens to their languages. Language is a relic that needs preservation as other inventions and objects of importance. It is an intangible resource that can also unlock some of the lost secrets and even civilizations that existed on the face of the earth.

Language has largely been neglected as a museological domain worldwide, apart from some certain sections in major museums devoted to individual linguistic contributions. The aim of the competition is to design an iconic museum of language in the heart of London that will deconstruct the science of linguistics into various aspects of- speech, script and sense. The proposal must not only become an archive for the past and present world languages but also serve as a learning center that works to develop languages and future communication systems. The competition aims at:

  • Preservation of language through the creation of a dedicated language bank that exhibits different world languages in an interactive manner.
  • Creation of a dedicated learning platform that will allow a detailed research and innovation in terms of the past, present and future world languages.
  • Create a poetic response for a language museum through the means of architecture.
  • Creating an icon that will have enrich and contribute to the culture of the city of London.

SCHEDULE

  • Start of Competition and Early Registration: 16th January 2018
  • Early Registration ends: 31st March 2018
  • Standard Registration starts: 1st April 2018
  • Deadline for Questions: 15th April 2018
  • Standard Registration ends: 29th April 2018
  • Closing day for Submissions 30th April 2018
  • Announcement of Winners: 21st May 2018

*Note: All deadlines are 11:59 pm – 00:00 IST (India).

AWARDS

Winning participants will receive prizes totaling INR 2,00,000 with the distribution as follows:

First prize- INR 1,00,000/- + Certificate

Second prize- INR 60,000/- + Certificate

Third prize- INR 40,000/- + Certificate

10 Honorable mentions

Winners and honorable mentions will be published on archasm’s website and several international architecture magazines and websites partnered by us.

REGISTRATION

Early Registration:

From 16th January 2018 to 31st March 2018

  • For Indian nationals- INR 1500 (per team)
  • For Foreign nationals- EUR 60 (per team)

Standard Registration:

From 1st April 2018 to 29th April 2018

  • For Indian nationals- INR 1800 (per team)
  • For Foreign nationals- EUR 80 (per team)

Entrants may register by filling the registration form and submitting it with the appropriate payment through our secure gateway on our website www.archasm.in

Discount

Group discounts apply for a minimum of 5 teams from one particular architecture school/university as our initiative to promote more participation from students.

Send us the following details at queries@archasm.in to avail the offer.

  • Names of all the participating teams members and their respective team leaders.
  • Name of the university.
  • School ID proofs of the team leaders.

Note:

It will not be possible to amend or update any information relating to your registration including the names of team members once validated.

REGULATIONS

  • Participant teams will be disqualified if any of the competition rules or submission requirements are not considered. Participation assumes acceptance of the regulations.
  • Team code is the only means of identification of a team as it is an anonymous competition.
  • The official language of the competition is English.
  • The registration fee is non-refundable.
  • Contacting the Jury is prohibited.
  • archasm as the competition organizer, reserves the right to modify the competition schedule if deemed necessary.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Please see the terms and conditions section on www.archasm.in.

COMPETITION PROJECT DISCLAIMER

This is an open international competition hosted by archasm to generate progressive design ideas. There are no plans for the museum to be built. The competition is organized for education purpose only.

OTHER DETAILS

Website: www.archasm.in

Facebook: www.facebook.com/atarchasm

Instagram: www.instagram.com/archasm_competitions/