Ar. Somayajula Lakshmi Narayana Sastry
Vizag
Somany Ceramics Presents
India Is Designing Its Future
WE'RE LOOKING FOR THOSE LEADING IT.
Manifesto
We see architecture as an enduring cultural act.
India's built environment is evolving rapidly, with some of its most meaningful design emerging beyond the metros. The Somany Design Excellence Awards celebrate architects who are leading this transformation through original thinking, contextual sensitivity and purposeful innovation, creating spaces that enrich lives and shape the future of India's cities and communities.
Excellence Defined
Recognition with Permanence
Somany Design Excellence Awards is conceived as a lasting institution - a considered body of judgement to ask a single question: what does excellence in Indian architecture look like?
We look beyond the metropolitan cities. Some of the most rigorous, resourceful and humane buildings in the country is taking shape in its Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and it is there that we direct our attention, our resources, and our regard.
As Somany lends the programme its conviction and its permanence, the judgement, entirely, belongs to the jurisprudence of the independent jury.
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Categories
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Cities
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Jurors
Know Your Jury
Why trust this award
An independent panel of practising architects across India
Ar. Shubhra Mittal
Lucknow
Ar. Tushar Sogani
Jaipur
Ar. Dhamotharan Sethuraman
Hyderabad
The Awards
Eight Categories
The Somany Design Excellence Awards will recognise outstanding work across eight categories. Together, these categories celebrate creativity, contextual relevance, innovation and meaningful contributions to India’s evolving built environment.
The Rewards of Excellence
Recognition is only the beginning. Every finalist is celebrated.
The Category Winners
8Winners
A Study in Tropical Modernism
Each of the eight category winners will receive a curated 3-night, 4-day trip to Sri Lanka celebrating the architectural legacy of Geoffrey Bawa. The experience includes stays, visits to Bawa's landmark properties in Galle, Bentota and Colombo. Stay, transfers, meal and on-ground travel will be arranged by Somany.
The Finalists: Top Five in Seven Categories
35Finalists, by invitation
The SDEA Awards Night
The five shortlisted nominees in each of seven categories will be invited to the SDEA Awards Night in New Delhi. There, they will be honoured among the leading voices in Indian architecture and design, as guests of Somany, with return flights, local travel and accommodation and meals taken care of.
- Practicing Architects with a valid Council of Architecture (COA) registration certificate
- Nominations accepted only from the listed 18 cities and their adjoining townships.
- Projects completed within the last 10 years (between year 2016–2026) from these 18 cities and adjoining townships.
- For Emerging Architect award maximum age should be 35 years as on 1st January 2026. For Women in architectural leadership award, minimum age as on 1st January 2026 should be 45 years. For Lifetime Achievement award the minimum age as on 1st January 2026 should be 60 years.
- Conceptual, unbuilt, incomplete or litigated projects will not be eligible for the awards
Projects completed within the last 10 years (2016–2026) from the listed cities and adjoining townships, across the eight categories. Conceptual, unbuilt, incomplete or litigated projects are not eligible.
Each entry is reviewed against clearly defined criteria, including design originality, contextual relevance, innovation, sustainability and overall impact. A distinguished jury independently evaluates and scores the submissions, followed by panel deliberations to arrive at the final winners.
Yes. Nominations are accepted in multiple categories. Submit each project separately under the appropriate category.
Submissions close soon. For clarifications, email awards@somanyceramics.com.
Yes, there are rewards for winners which are yet to be decided. Details will be announced closer to the awards ceremony.
Nominations now open. Closing Soon.
Eighteen cities. One jury. A single, uncompromising standard.