Energising the Frontline
Strengthening Island Tourism Through Resilient Design Solutions
till phase I submission deadline
Overview
About the ISA-iSUN Design Challenge
The ISA-iSUN Design Challenge is a global design competition focusing on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) where architecture and engineering institutes worldwide are invited to participate in designing a climate-resilient resort, bringing together architecture and solar technology, in select SIDS nations. This Challenge is hosted by The International Solar Alliance (ISA), powered by ISA Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), executed by GRIHA Council, with the support of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
The competition bridges global vision with grassroot actions by inviting students to develop resort projects (live and hypothetical) for the SIDS specifically for Maldives, Mauritius and Fiji. It encourages students to design a climate resilient resort which is scalable and replicable in nature, primarily focusing on embedding solar energy in the design.
View Design BriefArchitecture and engineering institutes are eligible for the competition. See the full eligibility and team composition requirements in the Design Brief.
The Road Ahead
Key Dates and Milestones
The Design Context
Three Islands. Three Contexts.
Participants may select the site they want to submit their design proposal for. A maximum of three entries can be submitted by each Institution (one submission per Site). Explore each site's full design brief below.
From Context to Concept
Strengthening Island Tourism Through Resilient Design Solutions
Understand the island, climate, culture and local context.
Develop a climate-resilient resort response.
Make solar energy an integral part of the architecture.
Create a solution that can be adapted across SIDS.
The Evaluators
Meet the Jury
Architects, sustainability experts and industry leaders evaluating the next generation of resilient island architecture.
Recognition
Ideas that shape the future
A total prize pool will be awarded to winners and runners-up.
View Full Awards
Frequently Asked Questions
View all FAQs01 Who is eligible to participate in the ISA-iSUN Design Challenge?
The Challenge is open to students pursuing Bachelor's or Master's programmes in Architecture and Engineering, as well as Master's students in Sustainable Design.
02 I recently graduated (or completed my academic requirements but my convocation is later), can I still participate?
No. The Challenge is exclusively open to students currently pursuing Bachelor's or Master's programmes in Engineering and Architecture. Please see the eligibility guidelines for full details.
03 Can a team include students from different universities or organisations?
No. All students on a team must belong to the same institution, since registration is done on behalf of the institution.
04 Do faculty members and advisory experts need to be practicing architects?
Faculty members must be affiliated with the participating institution. Advisory experts should be industry professionals, such as practising architects or solar energy specialists.
05 Which building codes and safety regulations should we follow: the site's local codes or our institution's location local codes?
Participants should refer to the applicable building codes and safety regulations of the site they select for their design (i.e., the Maldives, Mauritius, or Fiji), not their home institution's regulations.
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Most queries are addressed within 48 hours by our team.