the historic cultural landscape of Sabli
Discover. Deconstruct. Reclaim.
Sabli, once an important sacred site in India, now lies desolate and abandoned. The design challenge aims to revive this historic site, while becoming an example for many similar ones in the country.
Sabli, is a site of historic significance that now lays desolate and abandoned, under the layers of time. Located in the northern part of the state of Gujarat in India, the site that comprises of temples and water structures, lies close to the edge of a village that was once sacred, lying on the historic trade routes of the region. With its temples and tanks that were commissioned by wealthy merchants as acts of piety, the precinct provided relief and shelter to those who travelled from one city to another.
The historic structures of Sabli today seem to encapsulate not only those memories and imprints of the ancient but also those of the recent eras. As water levels rose due to the construction of the Guhai dam in 1980, part of the site is now submerged under water. What remains are a few structures on the higher ground; temples and a beautiful five-storey deep Kund just besides the large water body formed due to the construction of the dam.
'The historic site of Sabli now lies in a state of suspended animation, ravaged by the rhythms of time. The precinct needs perhaps a fresh lease of life, a new sense of purpose, lest it withers away from public consciousness and memory.'
Panel
Citylabs India. Provost and Dean, SEDA Navrachana University, Vadodara, India
Seema Khanwalkar
Social Scientist and Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Design, CEPT University, India
₹ 3,000
(For Indian participants)
$70
(For international participants)
Early Registration
30th October, '23 - 31th December, '23
₹ 5,000
(For Indian participants)
$85
(For international participants)
Regular Registration
1st January, '24 - 25th February, '24
Registration Fees
*All deadlines are scheduled at 11:59 pm IST
Competition Launch
30th October '23
Schedule
Submission Deadline
25th February '24
Announcement of Winners
1st April '24
*The regsitration fees are exclusive of the transaction charges
The Challenge
Citylabs India invites design solutions to address the challenge of reviving/ redeveloping the site of Sabli.
The litmus test of the design proposal will lie in its ability to address the issues, raise pertinent questions and establish a fresh perspective on a forgotten landscape such as Sabli. The participants need to revive or redevelop the area through an architectural or/and landscape intervention. While the program of the intervention is left open for the participants to define and articulate, the new intervention should aim to bring the area under the public eye.
The Design intervention can be of any scale or size. However, it should be limited to the area just between the tank and the temple. (refer to the red box in site plan in dossier) .
It could deal with any issue that participants feel is relevant for the project. By imparting meaning to the site, the intervention should respect and enhance not only its ecological condition but also take into consideration the nearby communities and other stakeholders in its revitalization.
3 Curator's Choice
+ publication feature
+ certificate of achievement
5 Honourable Mentions
+ publication feature
+ certificate of achievement
+ publication feature
+ certificate of achievement
₹ 15,000
Runner - Up
₹ 50,000
Winner
₹ 65,000
Grand Total Prize
Awards
Deliverables
A1
or
A1
- Maximum 2 A1 sheets
- Portrait or Landscape orientation
- Should not exceed 10 MB (300 dpi )
- File Name : UniqueCode_Title.jpg
Guidelines
If you have any questions, you may search for answers in the online FAQ and our Instagram page or send us an e-mail at competition@citylabsindia.com.
Remember to mark the e-mail with your unique code.
FAQs
This competition is open to all. There is no restriction on education, institution or nationality. Registration can be done as an individual or in a group (maximum three participants).
