Event Overview

ShelterGenius 3.0 is a future-forward student design competition that brings together architecture, design, engineering, and computing to explore new ways of living and working within small yet intelligent spaces. It offers an exciting opportunity for students to experiment, collaborate across disciplines, and rethink how compact environments can be designed to support modern lifestyles.

As work-from-home culture becomes a permanent reality and urban living spaces continue to shrink, the need for smart, flexible, and human-centred housing solutions is growing rapidly. ShelterGenius 3.0 invites students to respond to this challenge through integrated design thinking, where creative spatial planning is strengthened by ideas of automation, sustainability, and user well-being.

The competition encourages curiosity and originality, valuing strong ideas and clear thinking over technical complexity. Students do not need advanced technical skills to participate, what matters most is the ability to think creatively, design responsibly, and imagine how intelligent spaces can improve everyday life. ShelterGenius 3.0 is ultimately a platform to learn, explore, and design boldly for the future of compact living.

What Is the Design Challenge?

Design a single-occupant, Al-enabled Work-from-Home Studio Unit within a 4 × 4 m (16 sqm) modular footprint that supports living, working, resting, and daily activities, all within a smart and flexible architectural system.
Eligibility Criteria

• Undergraduate students (all years)

• Disciplines:

• Architecture

• Design

• Civil Engineering

• Computer Science

• Electronics & Electrical Engineering

• Teams of 2-3 students

• Interdisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged

• No prior Al, loT, or AR/VR experience required

Core Focus Areas

• ShelterGenius 3.0 challenges participants to design a compact, intelligent living unit by focusing on the following key areas:

• Space Optimization for Work-from-Home

Smart use of a 4 × 4 m studio through flexible layouts, multifunctional furniture, and day-night adaptability.

• Modular & Scalable Design

A repeatable unit that can expand horizontally or vertically to form clusters and communities.

• Smart Automation & Al Integration
  Conceptual use of Al and automation to enhance comfort, efficiency, and user experience.

• Sustainability & Affordability
  Climate-responsive planning, energy efficiency, and responsible material use for practical, eco-friendly living.

Competition Structure & Stages

STAGE I: Online Screening Round

Submission Format: 20-slide Presentation (PDF)

Last date of Submission: 5th February 2026 up to 11:00 am

Stage 1 Submission Portal Link: https://forms.gle/spzDRncVCQY1He4eA

What to include in Stage I Presentation (20 slides):

• Design concept & idea

• Site and climate assumption

• Plan and zoning

• Day-night transformation

• Modular aggregation

• Automation &Al logic

• Sustainability strategies

• Visuals, diagrams, renders

Shortlisted teams qualify for the Pre-Event Enablement Program & Final Round

STAGE II: Pre-Event Enablement Program (For Shortlisted Teams Only)

• 6th February 2026

• This stage is structured to support shortlisted teams in strengthening both technical understanding and design articulation prior to the final round. The program is particularly beneficial for participants with limited prior exposure to Al, automation, or immersive visualization tools.

Objectives

• To bridge the gap between conceptual design and system-level execution

• To clarify fundamentals of Al, loT, and automation in residential environments

• To support integration of technology with architectural and modular design strategies

• To enhance presentation quality and visualization methods across disciplines

Program Components

• Webinar on "Al in Design and Architecture": role of data-driven systems in spatial design and user comfort

• Bootcamp on Modular Design Systems: principles of modularity, scalability, and transformable spaces

• Session on loT and Al Integration for Home Automation: sensor-actuator logic, control workflows, and simulation

STAGE III: Final Design Presentation (Hybrid):

• 20 February 2026

What to present in Stage I!! Presentation

Presentation Deck: Maximum 30 slides (PDF) covering design, modular strategy, sustainability, and Al/automation concepts

• Demonstration: AR/VR walkthrough to support and communicate spatial experience and system integration

• Purpose: To clearly illustrate design intent, user interaction, and functionality of the smart living studio concept

• Presentation Duration: 15 minutes, including AR/VR walkthrough

• Selected and award-winning student designs will be showcased through a post-competition exhibition as part of ShelterGenius 3.0. The exhibition will serve as a platform for academic exchange, peer learning, and interaction with faculty and industry experts

Evaluation Criteria

• The designs will be evaluated on the basis of:

• Innovation & creativity

• Space efficiency

• Modular logic

• Integration of automation

• Sustainability

• Comfort & usability

• Clarity of presentation

ShelterGenius 3.0 is not about complexity, it is about clarity, creativity, and courage
Plagiarism & Al Usage Guidelines (Mandatory)

• Originality Policy

• All design ideas must be original

• Direct copying or replication is prohibited

• Jury may disqualify plagiarized entries

• Responsible Use of Al

• Al tools may be used for: Visual enhancement, Rendering, & Presentation support

• Al tools must NOT be used for: Creating the original design idea and generating layouts or concepts

Recognition:

• Prize Money by the sponsors:

• 1st prize: 715,000/-

• 2nd Prize: ·10,000/-

• 3rd prize: 75,000/

Registration Fee

• Last Date of registration: 4th February 2026

• Registration Link: https://forms.gle/rAQdyUS396HsxTvd9

• { 200 per team (One-time, non-refundable)

After completing the registration form, teams will be redirected to the payment section to pay 200 per team via the provided online payment link and upload the transaction receipt/ID for verification before final submission of registration.

Coordinator/POC:

Dr. Kapil Kumar Sinha, Assistant Professor:

+91 - 980 618 1263

kapil.e17598@cumail.in

Student Team:

Anish Aditya (B Arch) : +91 7800758321

Anish Aditya (B Arch) : +91 8222864121

Ar. Ridima Sharma, Assistant Professor :

+91 - 988 291 0251

Schedule & Timeline