Material & Skill Adaptation
Local material, indigenous craftsmanship and contextual work
Projects that display intelligent deployment of locally available resources and the understanding of indigenous materials and object cultures. Focusing also on the interface between the built form and the natural environment in which it is situated, this category holistically evaluates the impact of the act of making through material, technology and craftsmanship.
Categories
Criteria and guidelines
Special criteria
- Professionals should submit a detailed concept note in 300 words or less that explains the making of the property, from their first meeting with the client to the initial brief given to them, the construction process, materials used, location, furniture and accessories sourced and also how the property reflects its owner's unique tastes and personality.
- Photographs of the completed project should preferably display both the interior and exterior, along with other interesting details.
Entry rules & regulations:
- Participants are required to complete the application in the form of a PowerPoint presentation, strictly adhering to the prescribed template, and submit it to kbda@kohler.com
- Submissions will be accepted exclusively in PowerPoint presentation format.
- The deadline for submission of entries is 15 July 2026.
- All submissions must include sketches, plans, elevations, and, where available, before-and-after images of the space. These should be accompanied by professionally captured photographs (interior and exterior, as applicable), along with a detailed project write-up.
- For submissions of a single project across multiple categories, a separate application form must be completed for each category.
- The total number of pages in the PDF/images must not exceed 50, and the overall file size must not exceed 20 MB.
- The project must be described in accordance with the guidelines provided within the presentation template.
- Eligible projects must not be more than five (5) years old (i.e., completed no earlier than 2021).
- The project must be fully completed and located within India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, or the Maldives.
- Projects that have received awards in previous editions of KBDA shall not be eligible for re-entry.
Instituted in 2016 as a biennial event, the Kohler Bold Design Awards is a platform by Kohler India, to acknowledge and celebrate truly exceptional work done by Indian architects & designers. The Jury panel includes some of the most renowned personalities in the field of architecture and design from India and abroad.
In case of any query, please write to us on: kbda@kohler.com