Inhabit V1
Edition 1 · Speculative Housing for 2050
- Sqratch
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- Competitions
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- Inhabit Challenge
Total Prizepool
₹1,25,000
Design the Silence. Design the Section.
In the coming decades, people are projected to spend a vast majority of their waking hours on screens. Architecture has historically answered this screen-dependency with thicker walls and quieter spaces. None of it works because the problem isn't the screen itself — it's that the built environment is less engaging than the interface.
Most "digital detox" design is wellness theatre: a room with a Buddha statue, wood paneling, and a no-phones sign. Sqratch invites participants to design a township where the architecture itself is the entertainment — where the geometry of the section drawing does the work prohibition cannot.
Most "digital detox" architecture is signage and incense. A wellness room with a Buddha statue and a no-phones sign. Theatre. The screen wins by default because the building gave up first. INHABIT V1 asks the harder question: design a township where the architecture is the entertainment. Where you'd rather walk to the courtyard than scroll. Where the section drawing does the work prohibition can't.
The Architecture is the Entertainment.
The Brief
The Objective
Design a 5–10 acre residential township on the periphery of an Indian metro corridor. 80–150 dwelling units. Sqratch challenges you to think buildable and planning-defensible.
Submission Requirements
Submit plans, at least one section, interior/site renders, and design explanation. Open globally to students and professionals. Teams can consist of up to 3 members.
Technical Specifications
Prizes
₹1,25,000
+ realization features
Featured journal publication + juror review panel
Featured journal publication
Featured journal publication
Featured Publication Slot
Dedicated student features in online portfolios.
Mentorship Spot
Evaluation by Mythili Shetty on local ecology plans.
10 Honorable Mentions & Certificates
Sqratch will acknowledge outstanding entries with official certificates of achievement.
Evaluation
Social Impact
Facilitates interaction and shared community life.
Well-Being Design
Material and environmental choices for relaxation and focus.
Technical Feasibility
Functional, durable, and maintainable.
Process Clarity
Iterative evolution shown via sketches and studies.
Visual Storytelling
Cohesive graphics, renders, and intuitive diagrams.
Jury Panel
Mythili Kowshik Shetty
Principal Architect
Pioneering sustainable and contextual architecture across urban India. Member of multiple national design advisory committees.
Debayan Chatterjee
Urban Planner
Advocating for high-density, low-impact transit enclaves. Debayan specializes in peri-urban zoning and public space design.
Sreyash Dasgupta
Architect
Critiquing contemporary architecture models via experimental prototypes. Known for award-winning modular micro-housing.
Key Dates
Entry Fees
Standard Tier · ₹2,000 / $60 (Per Team — up to 3 members) · through June 14. Late tier ₹2,500 / $70 from June 15.
- →Single registration covers entire team (up to 3 members)
- →Direct digital brief delivery upon successful transaction
- →Instant allocation of unique Team Identification ID
FAQ
Students (B.Arch / M.Arch / equivalent) and practising architects. Solo or teams of up to 3. No age limit. No firm requirement.
No. International teams can submit. The site context is in India, but you do not need to reside or be present in India to participate.
Per team. One single registration payment covers up to 3 teammates under one team ID. The Standard tier is ₹2,000 (₹2,500 for the Late tier from June 15).
Yes. However, each unique entry requires its own individual registration payment and will be assigned its own team ID.
Up to 12 × A3 PDF sheets plus a 2-page synopsis in MS Word format, under 10 MB total. A 3D model or MP4 walkthrough is optional.
No refunds after registration. The entry fee covers the digital infrastructure and jury evaluation time regardless of the final submission status.
September 2026. The shortlist will be published first in August, followed by final jury mentorship reviews and the winner announcements.
You do. Sqratch retains non-exclusive rights to publish and showcase all submitted entries online, in prints, and media campaigns.