Bustler's top 10 architecture & design competitions of 2024

As we wrap up our 2024 highlights on Archinect and Bustler, we present a countdown of the year's most popular competitions. 

From hundreds of architecture and design contests listed here, these were the top 10 competitions based on reader popularity.

1. Helsinki's New Museum of Architecture and Design

"An invitation to design the new museum of architecture and design in Helsinki, Finland. We are seeking a design for a globally unique museum building that redefines Helsinki as a destination for architecture, design, arts, and culture. [...] The design for the new museum, located in Helsinki’s South Harbour, will be selected through an open, international and anonymous competition, held in two stages."

2. Kinderspace: Architecture for Children's Development

"Introducing the Kinderspace: Architecture for Children's Development competition, an architectural challenge dedicated to crafting innovative educational spaces that enhance early childhood learning. As young children navigate their formative years, the environment in which they learn plays a pivotal role in their cognitive, emotional, and social development. Traditional educational settings often do not fully cater to the dynamism of early childhood, potentially stifling creativity and exploration. This competition seeks to transform kindergarten design by creating environments that are not only safe and functional but also stimulating and inclusive. Participants are encouraged to conceive spaces that foster learning, creativity, and community interaction, using sustainable and innovative design solutions that promote healthy development."

3. 150,000€ Kingspan's MICROHOME

"The MICROHOME Kingspan Edition is an exciting development in the evolution of the MICROHOME architecture competition, marking the seventh edition of this esteemed event. This special edition is hosted by Buildner in a key partnership with Kingspan, a collaboration that showcases a mutual vision and shared objectives, amplifying the reach and impact of the competition with a substantially increased prize fund of €150,000."

4. Architecture at Zero Competition 2024

"The American Institute of Architects California (AIA CA) announces the twelfth annual Architecture at Zero a design competition for decarbonization, equity, and resilience, open to students and professionals worldwide. It serves to engage the fields of architecture, design, engineering and planning in the pursuit of sustainable design while also considering the impacts of equity and resilience.  The 2024 competition challenge is to design a new building on a middle school campus in East Los Angeles (East LA), California. While the brief is to design the project for the Griffith STEAM Magnet Middle School, Architecture is an ideas competition and not a “real” project. Students and professionals participating in Architecture at Zero will design a new building that will replace relocatable classrooms and is to include science labs, art classroom, maker space, outdoor learning environments, and a teacher workroom."

5. Norman Foster Foundation - KHARKIV HOUSING CHALLENGE

"Located right at the border with Russia, Kharkiv stands as Ukraine’s second-largest city and has been significantly impacted by the ongoing conflict. This historically relevant and industrial city now faces the pressing challenge of rebuilding its damaged urban fabric, with a particular focus on residential buildings and public spaces, to not only repair but to also to improve the living conditions of its residents. This competition is part of the larger Kharkiv concept Masterplan project: a local and international initiative of the Kharkiv City Council, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) within the framework of the UN4UkrainianCities initiative, the Norman Foster Foundation, Arup, the Kharkiv Architects Group and Buildner architecture competition organizer. The Norman Foster Foundation KHARKIV HOUSING CHALLENGE seeks solutions that bridge the gap between innovative design and practical application."

6. "The Appointment between Youth and City" Urban Regeneration Design Competition

"Wuxi is located in southeast Jiangsu province, the center of the Yangtze River Delta, which is the most developed economic area of China and it is 128 km away from Shanghai. Boasting a history of more than 3,000 years, Wuxi is a historical city with profound cultural heritages and a large amount of talents. [...] In recent years, Wuxi benchmark the layout planning of international youth friendly advanced cities, propose to build a youth development-oriented city. This Urban Regeneration Design Competition – 'The Appointment between Youth and City,' as an important support for the construction of a youth-oriented city in Wuxi, is committed to filling the gaps in public services by focusing on the perspective of young people, creating a comprehensive policy and social environment that meets the diverse and multi-level development needs of young people, promoting the gathering of young talents, and achieving mutual promotion and positive interaction between high-quality development of young people and the city."

7. MOA Design and Build Student Competition- "Land Art: Celestial Architecture"

"The Museum of Outdoor Arts (MOA) in Greenwood Village, CO seeks conceptual design proposals for its Design and Build Competition from art, architecture, landscape architecture, design and other creatively focused USA-based collegiate students, teams, and/or classes. This year’s theme is Land Art: Celestial Architecture. [...] The competition is currently open to any undergraduate or graduate student or student team currently enrolled in any US university. Students should be studying in the field of art, architecture, landscape architecture, design, engineering, and/or other creatively focused programs."

8. The Olympic Roof Reuse

"It is time to take bold collective action towards circular architecture to accelerate the socio-ecological transition. With this goal in mind, The Montréal Olympic Park is launching an international idea competition to reuse and valorize the components of the roof of the Olympic Stadium, an emblematic building in Québec and architectural icon on a Canadian scale. What can be done with hundreds of tons of materials when the current roof of the Montréal Olympic Stadium is dismantled? Will we be able to take up the challenge of this Olympic roof reuse, while being part of a circular architecture approach, thus enhancing the quality of life of citizens impacted by climate change? The international design and architecture communities, both students and professionals, are invited to propose spaces, objects and processes that will constitute an important legacy for our city and for the Province of Québec."

9. 2024 World Landscape Architecture Awards

"The World Landscape Architecture (WLA) Awards are a prestigious global awards program celebrating excellence and innovation in landscape architecture. Organized annually, the awards showcase outstanding projects demonstrating exceptional creativity, sustainability, and environmental impact. The WLA awards highlight the diverse range of landscapes, from urban parks and public spaces to residential gardens and ecological restoration projects, fostering a sense of community and connection with nature."

10. 2024 Urban Design Challenge: A Student Ideas Competition for the National Capital Region

"Students are encouraged to unleash their creativity and share their visionary ideas for the Park District of LeBreton Flats. Located 1.5 km from Parliament Hill in the western downtown core of Canada’s capital city, this 10-hectare site stretches from the Bayview LRT Station in the west to Nepean Inlet and the aqueduct in the east. This competition challenges students to propose innovative planning and design ideas for the LeBreton Flats Parks District and inspire future consultation efforts for these parklands. It is open to students enrolled in a post-secondary institution who are studying planning, architecture, environmental design, urban design or landscape architecture in Canada."

Would you like to contribute competitions, award programs, or calls for submissions not listed on Bustler yet? Send them directly to our team for review. We may include them in our next roundup.

If you are curious about Bustler's extensive advertising strategies for architecture and design competitions, contact us. Our team will be happy to strategize with you.