New architecture and design competitions: WAF Awards, The Architect’s Chair, National Single Stair Competition, and Public Space Design Project 2

For this week's curated picks of architecture and design competitions listed on Bustler, we are featuring four calls seeking the world's best architecture and design projects, innovative and sustainable design proposals for a site within the Busan Design Special District in South Korea, forward-thinking multifamily housing designs that use single-stair configurations, and unique chair designs.

For the complete directory of newly listed competitions, click here.

WAF Awards 2025
Registration/Submission Deadline: Friday, May 16, 2025 (Hurry, ends today!)

"World Architecture Festival 2025 will make its debut in the USA, taking place at the Miami Beach Convention Center from November 12–14. At the heart of the festival sits a unique awards programme. All finalists will present their project live at the event in front of a panel of expert judges and their peers."

2025 Big International Design Competition - “Public space design Project 2”
Registration/Submission Deadline: Monday, May 19, 2025

"The 2025 Big International Design Competition – Public Space Design Project 2 is hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and Design Council Busan. This two-stage international competition aims to discover and promote outstanding public designs that contribute to the creation of an attractive and sustainable Global Hub City, Busan. Under the theme “A Pause by the River”, the competition invites innovative design proposals for one site within the (tentatively named) Busan Design Special District, a 2km stretch spanning from the Busan Museum of Art to the Suyeonggang Human Bridge. Participants are expected to submit integrated proposals that encompass both Place Making and Public Goods Design, reflecting user behavior, site context, and urban connectivity."

National Single Stair Architectural Design Competition
Registration/Submission Deadline: Sunday, June 29, 2025

"The 2025 National Single Stair Architectural Design Competition invites architects, designers, students, and planners from around the world to propose innovative multifamily housing designs for typical urban parcels in the United States—using single-stair configurations. The competition is a response to outdated building codes that require double-loaded corridors in multifamily housing, which can result in inefficient layouts and reduced light and air. In light of successful single-stair reform efforts in Los Angeles and other U.S. cities, this competition challenges entrants to envision more livable, spatially efficient, and sustainable housing models."

The Architect’s Chair #4
Registration Deadline: September 18, 2025
Submission Deadline: Thursday, October 23, 2025

"The Architect's Chair Competition offers architects and designers an exciting opportunity to showcase their creativity by designing a signature chair that embodies their unique architectural vision. Inspired by the tradition of renowned architects creating custom furniture as an extension of their work, this competition challenges participants to distill their design philosophy into a single, iconic piece."

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