Kamgar Chawl Design Competition - 2025

Organized by the International Shelter Foundation

Please register through the following link: Registration Form 

Reimagine Housing. Rebuild Community.

The Kamgar Chawl Design Challenge invites students in architecture, urban design, and planning to take on a unique and meaningful opportunity: redesigning a real settlement in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, where your ideas could directly inform future development efforts. Your designs have the potential to inform an actual redevelopment initiative—supported by Shelter Associates —through whom the proposals will be shared with local authorities for potential implementation.

Eligibility

Open to current students and recent graduates in Architecture, Urban Design, Planning, and allied disciplines. Participants may register individually or in teams of up to five members.

Awards & Recognition

• First Prize: ₹50,000
• Second Prize: ₹25,000
• People's Choice Award: ₹10,000
• All shortlisted entries will receive digital certificates and will be featured in our upcoming digital magazine.

Additionally, outstanding entries may be forwarded to relevant local authorities and stakeholders in Kolhapur for potential consideration in future development efforts.

Evaluation Process

Designs will be reviewed by a jury of accomplished architects and professionals from across India and abroad, representing a wide range of expertise and design philosophies. Jury members will be announced after the registration deadline.

About the Site: Kamgar Chawl, Kolhapur

Participants will work on a real site with real challenges—and the chance to create real solutions. The redevelopment initiative seeks to improve:

1. Housing Infrastructure – Propose affordable, structurally sound homes with improved ventilation, daylight, and thermal comfort.
2. Road Networks – Upgrade both internal and main access roads to improve mobility and safety.
3. Waste Management – Introduce waste segregation strategies and streamline collection.
4. Community Spaces – Create inclusive, safe, and vibrant recreational and social infrastructure
5. Sanitation – Expand toilet access and introduce a reliable water supply.
6. Drainage – Design an effective sewerage and stormwater management system.

Key Dates

• Registration Deadline: Currently OPEN
• Design Brief Release: May 31, 2025 (to registered participants only)
• Submission Deadline: July 31, 2025
• Results Released by the July: August 31st, 2025

Why Participate?

• Work on a live redevelopment site with the potential for real impact
• Get your work seen by top professionals in the industry
• Add a high-value project to your portfolio
• Contribute to housing solutions that matter
• Be part of a cross-institutional, national competition focused on social equity through design

Case Study:

To better understand the potential impact of such initiatives, we are sharing a case study of Bondre Nagar—a settlement that underwent a remarkable transformation through collaborative design, community engagement, and data-driven planning. This project was led by Shelter Associates, who played a pivotal role in facilitating the process—from mobilizing the community and coordinating design solutions to managing the legal and financial aspects, including loan documentation and negotiations.

Case Study: Bondre Nagar 

Bondre Nagar, once an underserved informal settlement, is now an example of what can be achieved through thoughtful design and grassroots collaboration. The case study illustrates the processes, challenges, and outcomes of this transformation.

The following short film captures the voices and experiences of Bondre Nagar’s residents, chronicling their journey from vulnerability to stability. It serves as a compelling reminder of the power of design to affect real change.  

Watch the Video 

For inquiries, reach out to us at: [email protected]. 

You can also check out our blog on Kamgar Chawl here: Kamgar Chawl!