New architecture and design competitions: Kingspan MICROHOME, Seoul International Garden Show, Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture, and Re:Design Elin Pelin

For this week's curated picks of architecture and design competitions listed on Bustler, we are featuring four calls seeking creative garden designs for the Seoul International Garden Show, design proposals that imagine a more modern, sustainable, and attractive Elin Pelin, Bulgaria, outstanding student members of the Australian Institute of Architects, and exceptional designs for compact living spaces.

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

Show Garden Competition for Seoul International Garden Show 2026
Registration/Submission Deadline: Monday, December 8, 2025

"The Seoul Metropolitan Government is hosting the 'Show Garden Competition for Seoul International Garden Show 2026’ to discover creative garden designs as a way to promote urban garden culture as everyday art. We look forward to receiving submissions by garden designers of great caliber."

Re:Design Elin Pelin - International Architectural Competition for the Redevelopment of Elin Pelin Center
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Submission Deadline: Monday, February 9, 2026

"The Municipality of Elin Pelin has launched this competition with the goal of creating an accessible, safe, and functional city center that encourages an active lifestyle, social interaction, and economic growth. Elin Pelin is a young but rapidly developing town in Bulgaria. The competition aims to result in the realization of a modern, sustainable, and attractive urban environment that expresses the town’s unique identity. The project is divided into two parts – the Conceptual Design of Zone 1: the City Center and the Development of Zone 2: the Surrounding Area which includes the Schematic Design of Urban Elements and Furniture."

2026 Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture
Registration/Submission Deadline: Tuesday, September 1, 2026

"The Australian Institute of Architects is calling for nominations for the 2026 National Prizes – recognising outstanding contributions to the profession and to the built environment. The Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture is awarded to the most outstanding contribution by an individual SONA member or collaboration of SONA members towards the advancement of architecture in the areas of leadership, publication, community and/or education."

Kingspan MICROHOME 2026
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Submission Deadline: Monday, November 2, 2026

"Within just 25 square meters, participants are challenged to create spaces that feel complete: efficient yet warm, compact yet open, humble yet ambitious. This is not a competition about limitation, but liberation. By working within defined boundaries, architects can rediscover the essence of space, light, and form — and propose ways of living that are lighter on the planet yet richer in experience. There are no geographical restrictions for proposed sites. Whether imagined in the middle of a city or surrounded by nature, the microhome should respond thoughtfully to its context — addressing sustainability, adaptability, and the changing needs of contemporary life."

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.