mgcoi Best Architecture Competitions for Students - Transparence
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Transparence isn’t just a competition — it’s where India’s most promising design students come together to shape bold ideas into powerful statements. Over the last two decades, this initiative by Saint-Gobain has evolved into one of the country’s most prestigious design platforms, offering students an opportunity to be mentored by industry leaders, gain national recognition, and make their mark on the future of design.

As we celebrate the 20th edition, Transparence continues to push boundaries — encouraging innovation, sustainability, and design with purpose. It’s not just about winning; it’s about contributing to a legacy of meaningful architecture and interiors that redefine our spaces and society.

Join a legacy that has shaped the design voices of tomorrow.

Welcome to Transparence 20.0

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India towards 2047
Crafting a New Design Vocabulary

As India approaches its 100th year of independence in 2047, this milestone invites us to imagine more than just the passage of time—it urges us to reimagine the built environment as a force for transformation. Transparence 20.0 calls on students of design to move beyond traditional ideas of monuments and aesthetics, and envision design as a powerful agent of change. This edition challenges you to create a landmark—that shifts paradigms, inspires progress, and reflects a bold, future-facing identity for the nation. Your design should speak a global language while staying rooted in Indian culture, embracing sustainability, long-lasting materials, and inclusive values. It should demonstrate how spaces—whether built from the ground up or designed from within—can become catalysts for environmental responsibility, social cohesion, and better living for all. This is your opportunity to define a new vocabulary for architecture and design in India , one that celebrates resilience, heritage, and innovation.Go beyond a landmark. Create the future.

COMPETITION TIMELINE

Registrations Open:

2 June 2025

Registrations Close:

31 October 2025

Submissions Close:

4 November 2025

National Finale:

Early December 2025

01

Architecture Category

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02

Interior Design Category

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03

Architecture Student Contest

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🏆 National-Level Prizes

National Winner:
Rs. 75,000/- per team, a trophy, and a certificate.
National First-Runner-Up:
Rs. 50,000/- per team, a trophy and a certificate.
National Second-Runner-Up:
Rs. 25,000/- per team, a trophy and a certificate.

📍 Regional Level Prizes

National Finalist Teams:
Cash award of Rs. 20,000/- per team and a certificate.
Jury’s Commendation:
Certificate of Commendation in both sub-categories.
Special Recognition:
Certificate of Recognition in both subcategories.

🎓 Studio Project

Any college with five or more entries will qualify for Studio Project entitlements, along with an opportunity for students to win Regional and National-Level prizes.
College with Minimum 5 Entries

Acedge Offerings worth
Rs. 20,000/-

Studio Project Awards

‘Best Studio Award Certificate’ for the best entry.

Faculty Recognition

Certificate of Appreciation for the Studio Faculty.

Architecture Student Contest (ASC)
2026 - Coming Soon!


The Architecture Student Contest (ASC) is a prestigious international competition driven by Saint-Gobain’s commitment to building a more sustainable future. Originally launched in 2004 by Saint-Gobain in Serbia, the contest quickly gained global recognition and has, since 2005, brought together over 1,300 architecture students from more than 30 countries every year.

The ASC offers architecture students a powerful platform to test their creativity, sharpen their professional skills, and design for real-world impact. At its heart, the competition challenges participants to go beyond aesthetics — to create buildings that are energy-efficient, resource-conscious, and deeply attuned to the health, wellbeing, and comfort of their occupants. It’s an opportunity to explore how sustainable architecture can address today’s urgent environmental challenges while imagining better spaces for tomorrow.

Warsaw

2022

Portugal

2023

Finland

2024

Paris

2025

Transparence 20.0 Categories

Architecture

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Architecture Category

As India approaches its 100th year of independence in 2047, we stand at a pivotal moment to reflect on where we’ve come from—and where we’re headed. Architecture, as both a cultural expression and a functional necessity, plays a powerful role in shaping this journey. It is no longer just about iconic skylines or impressive structures; today, architecture must address urgent global challenges—climate change, social equity, cultural identity, and sustainable growth.


This year’s brief invites participants to imagine a landmark that represents more than just form or function—it must become a symbol of the country’s evolving aspirations. The challenge lies in crafting a vision that is inclusive, rooted in local context, yet speaks a global design language. A space that embodies resilience, innovation, and sustainability while offering real, everyday impact to the communities it touches. This is your opportunity to contribute to a legacy—one that defines India’s next chapter through bold ideas and future-forward architecture.

Interior Design Category

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Interior Design Category

If architecture defines the framework of a nation's progress, interior design gives it depth, warmth, and meaning. As India moves toward its 100th year of independence, the way we design our interior environments must reflect a deeper consciousness—one that not only supports functional needs but also enhances everyday living through empathy, adaptability, and thoughtful materiality.


Interior design has the power to influence how people feel, behave, and connect—with themselves, with each other, and with the spaces they inhabit. This year’s brief challenges participants to craft interior environments that are not only visually compelling but also deeply rooted in context, culture, and community. Participants are encouraged to explore designs that reflect India’s local materials and craftsmanship, respond to climate and lifestyle changes, and embody a vision for a more resilient, mindful future.


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