Future Cities India 2020 student competition was held once more by the Ministry of Science & Technology in New Delhi, India on January 17, 2009. Organized by Bentley, a total of 14 high schools with 15 designs participated in the final competition.
Their task this year was to design a railroad station to replace existing Delhi Central Station. This wasn't a "the sky's the limit" type of competition but one with very realistic parameters and site constraints. The students were not required to re-engineer the existing tracks or other rail features but instead focus on the rail station structure alone. The teams, however, were required to take into consideration existing infrastructure, the need for parking and many of the types of real world issues encountered when building a new structure in a crowded inner city area. In reading the original requirements for the students I was surprised just how detailed the design requirement s were (reminded me of RFIs I worked on years ago). Here is an example of one of the requirements:
Propose minimum 2 internal access roads with separate parking zones at Paharganj and Ajmeri Gate Terminals to cater the increasing traffic infrastructure needs. Plan necessary parking structures on both sides of the station with proper pedestrian access to the station.
How's that for a project requirement for a high school design team! The students tackled the project with a mix of imagination and practical application. Their imaginative solutions even included implanting (piezo) crystals in the floors to harness pedestrian traffic energy! How is that for thinking "outside the box".
The winning entry came from Manava Bharati India International School, Panchsheel, New Delhi. The design includes several unique features including not one but two shopping malls, an aquarium/ botanical garden, accommodations for a luxury hotel and even a revolving restaurant on a 400 meter "space needle" structure just to name a few.
The winners of the Future Cities India 2020 2009 competition with their physical model.
The design's "green" solutions include solar cell arrays on the roof structures, "solar scoops" to allow for more light penetration into the interiors of the buildings and rain water harvesting. One of the interesting outcomes of this project was the interest in the various designs by the Rail and Transportation Bureau, the people responsible for actually designing and building the new station.
Scott Lofgren, Global Director of the Bentley Careers Network, said it best: "The future of India and the World is in your schools, if these teams are any indication - you have a very bright future" The designs are now on display in the American Centre in New Dehli.
Winner Team - Manava Bharati India International School, Panchsheel, New Delhi Runner up Team - Amity International School, Sector 43, Gurgaon, Haryana Best Physical Model - Apeejay School, Faridabad, Haryana Best Computer Model - Apeejay School, Sheikh Sarai, New Delhi (students used Microstation and MX Road) Best Essay - Vasant Valley School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi
If you want to read more about this event, check out the links below: Future Cities India 2020 web site: http://www.futurecitiesindia2020.co.in/ Web articles covering the event: • The Hindu - http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200901171757.htm • India education Diary - http://indiaeducationdiary.in/Shownews.asp?newsid=1257 • Press Information Bureau - http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=46784
YouTube Video produced by Bentley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq-vwB84sGM
Congratulations for initiating the competition. Indeed, the youth must be given a role in determining the future of the world. We and our present leaders have already made a mesh of it, and this time, let us hear from our children what they think, or say, or want to do about this world we're all living in