Registration Deadline: Jun 12, 2025; Submission Deadline: Jun 25, 2025
Handrail on a Cliff challenges designers to redefine the handrail in the extreme landscape of the Black Angel Cliff, Greenland. A balance of protection, freedom, and control, where design meets raw nature. No limits on form or materials—just bold ideas shaping the edge between safety and risk. More:https://www.archcontest.com/en/competition/9
Total prize fund € 3,000
10 finalist projects will be shortlisted and 3 winners will be selected to receive the prizes, which will be distributed as follows:
Registration Deadline: Aug 1, 2025; Submission Deadline: Aug 1, 2025
For this third edition, the foundation will grant two fellowships of up to €75,000 each and invites prospective fellows from around the world to apply in partnership with a host institution. The proposed courses should preferably begin in 2026 (or shortly thereafter) and revolve around the 2025 OBEL Award theme: Ready Made. The aim is to foster deeper exploration, development, and dissemination of knowledge on this key topic within the built environment.
The 2025 cycle of the fellowship program aims to provide universities with the resources to incorporate new voices into their institutions through the development of impactful courses. This year’s focus challenges applicants to rethink, reinterpret, and repurpose existing resources within the built environment.
“Supporting influential ideas and approaches that can drive architectural discourse is a key focus for the foundation,” explains Jesper Eis, Executive Director of the OBEL Award. “We are excited to welcome applications from around the world to gain diverse perspectives on the Ready Made agenda. Ultimately, we seek fellows who explore how new value—and new values—can be discovered through the materials and mechanisms of what already exists. Just like the Ready Made agenda, education works in a similar way: the essence of a fellowship is to take an existing body of knowledge and build upon it with new ideas and contributions,” he adds.
The OBEL Award Teaching Fellowships seek to bridge the gap between professional practice and academia to enrich the dialogue and learning around each year’s chosen award theme. By supporting the development of new courses within accredited academic programs, the fellowship brings fresh voices into academia, reinforcing a commitment to innovation and the core mission of the OBEL Award.
Join applications from potential fellows and host institutions are due by midnight CEST on August 1, 2025. [Apply now here]
Architectural design thrives on the delicate balance between aesthetics and practicality. Interior design competitions offer a unique platform for architects and designers to explore this dynamic relationship, pushing the boundaries […]
Premise: Libraries are vital community resources, providing access to information, culture, and education. However, traditional library designs often present significant barriers for people with disabilities. This competition challenges participants to rethink library design from the ground up, prioritizing accessibility and inclusivity for users with a wide range of disabilities. The aim is to create a welcoming and empowering space that facilitates exploration, learning, and social interaction for everyone, regardless of their physical, sensory, or cognitive abilities. The design should go beyond simply meeting accessibility codes and strive to create a truly inclusive and enriching experience for all users. Consider how the design can foster a sense of belonging and community for disabled individuals.
Objective: Design a state-of-the-art library specifically tailored to the needs of individuals with various disabilities, fostering an inclusive and accessible environment for all users. The design should seamlessly integrate assistive technologies and incorporate universal design principles. Key objectives include ensuring barrier-free access throughout the building, providing adaptable spaces for different needs and preferences, and creating a sensory-rich environment that caters to diverse sensory profiles. The library should offer a comprehensive collection of accessible materials, including braille books, audiobooks, and large-print resources. Furthermore, the design should promote social interaction and create opportunities for collaboration and community building among disabled users. The space should be flexible and adaptable to accommodate a wide range of activities and programs, encouraging lifelong learning and community engagement.
Site: The competition site is open to the designer’s interpretation, allowing for maximum creativity and flexibility in design solutions. Participants are encouraged to envision the library within a community setting, considering factors like access to public transportation and proximity to other essential services. While the specific size and location of the site are not prescribed, the proposed library should be of sufficient size to accommodate a diverse range of library functions, including individual study areas, group collaboration spaces, a dedicated children’s area, and a technology center. A suggested area between 5,000 and 20,000 square feet is recommended to ensure adequate space for these functions, but designs exceeding or slightly falling short of this range will also be considered. The site selection should be justified in the design proposal, demonstrating how the chosen location contributes to the accessibility and inclusivity of the library.
Constraints: The primary constraint of this competition is the requirement to adhere to and surpass standard accessibility guidelines and regulations. The design must be fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or equivalent accessibility standards applicable in the chosen location. Beyond simply meeting these minimum requirements, the design should strive to create a truly inclusive environment that anticipates and addresses the diverse needs of disabled users. Budget considerations should be acknowledged, though precise cost limitations are not explicitly defined for this stage. Participants are encouraged to demonstrate cost-effectiveness in their design choices, prioritizing sustainable and durable materials. The design should also consider the environmental impact of the building, incorporating sustainable design principles where possible. Finally, the design should be aesthetically pleasing and welcoming, promoting a sense of comfort and belonging for all users.
The world of competitive activities is constantly evolving, pushing individuals and teams to achieve new heights of skill, strategy, and innovation. Beyond traditional sports and games, a burgeoning field of […]
Adaptive reuse, the process of repurposing existing buildings for new functions, is gaining significant traction in architecture competitions worldwide. This sustainable approach breathes new life into old structures, preserving historical […]
In this article, we continue our series on Competitions.archi, presenting a collection of articles on different architectural competitions. Today, we will be featuring the winner of the Skyscraper 2023 Competition – an article from Architecture Competitions Yearbook 2023. ____________________________________________________________________ It was a real surprise for us to win the eVolo 2023 Skyscraper Competition with
Cool Gardens 2025 invites proposals by individual artists/designers or teams for temporary garden installations, to be open to the public from July 5th to September 28th. Presented by Storefront Manitoba, Cool Gardens is a design competition and curated public exhibition of contemporary garden installations that takes place across Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, within Treaty 1 Territory
