Design students shine bright at Saint-Gobain Transparence 19.0
Elevator World India
A premium technical magazine for the vertical transportation industry
Saint-Gobain has successfully concluded the 19th edition of India’s premier architectural and interior design competition, Transparence 19.0, in collaboration with Ethos Empowers. Transparence 19.0 received over 1200+ registrations and 450+ submissions from 100+ colleges across the nation, further solidifying its position as India’s leading design competition for students. Close to 15 colleges have adopted Transparence 19.0 as part of their ongoing studio curriculum.
Under the theme ‘Reimagining the Central Business Districts,' participants were challenged to design innovative solutions for commercial districts, focusing on sustainability, accessibility, and community engagement.
Mr. Unnikrishnan AR, Managing Director of Glass, Glass Solutions, and Homes & Hospitality Businesses, Saint-Gobain India said that “For almost two decades, Transparence has been a platform that aims to showcase the brightest future talents in India’s architecture and design sector. This competition keeps the excitement alive by collaborating with leading colleges and renowned architects and designers. It is impressive to look at the students reimagine urban spaces into dynamic designs with a focus on smart technology and sustainability.? It is our constant endeavor to empower the next generation with a platform like Transparence.”
Commenting further, Anand Santhanam, Executive Director - Sales and Marketing at Saint-Gobain India Pvt. Ltd. – Glass Business said, “We are happy by the innovative ideas and quality of submissions in Transparence 19.0. This year’s theme presented a unique opportunity for students to envision urban spaces. The range of designs we received showcase the next generation of architects who are not only just thinking about buildings but also about sustainability and the way green buildings shape communities. Our hearty congratulations to all the winners.”
A distinguished panel of experts, consisting of renowned architects and interior designers, served as the grand jury for the finale. Among them were Ar. Gayathri Shetty, Ar. Debashish Guha, Ar. Tanuja Kanvinde, Ar. Ranjith C, Ar. Arunkumar Deivanayagam, and Ar. Sunayana Subbiah.
13 finalists across the architecture and interior design categories were selected from regional rounds, showcasing diverse, and creative sustainable solutions to transform India’s urban centers. The winners list is as follows:
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On the sidelines of Transparence, 4 students were selected as winners for Saint-Gobain Grants Program – Kapil Mahadil, Rosie Paul, Vishmitha Maben and Joy Mondal. The program recognizes and awards, INR 100,000/- each to recipients to implement socially responsible design ideas.
In addition to the national competition, Transparence 19.0 also witnessed over 30 top participants contesting for a spot in the Saint-Gobain International Brief for the Architecture Student Contest (ASC) 2025 in Paris. After an intense evaluation by the national jury, the team of Smriti Sharma and Harsha Verma from SPA Bhopal emerged as the winners who will now represent India at the international level.
As Transparence 19.0 concludes, Saint-Gobain India Glass Business unveiled the 20th edition of Transparence.? Transparence 20.0, which will coincide with the company’s 25th anniversary in India, will have the theme of “India towards 2047: Crafting a New Design Vocabulary”. The edition throws open a challenge to the students of architecture and interior design to create a modern national icon—one that showcases India’s cultural identity, inspires future generations, and transforms its surroundings through innovative design incorporating light and sustainable construction techniques.
For more information and updates on Transparence 19.0/Transparance 20.0, please visit https://transparence.in/