Use architecture to create different emotional states. Museum of Emotions #9 is launched!

It may not be your first instinct to consider how a building makes you feel, yet architecture has always had a profound impact on human emotions. Different spaces are designed to evoke different responses: offices can make us feel energised and productive, art galleries thoughtful and curious, and museums calm and intrigued. These spaces are far more than mere structures—they shape our experiences.

Now in its 9th edition, the Museum of Emotions competition continues to challenge participants to use architecture as a tool for emotional expression. Designers are invited to create a museum with two distinct halls that evoke contrasting emotional states—one inducing negative emotions and the other positive.

Participants are free to choose which emotions their designs provoke, whether fear, anger, anxiety, love, happiness, laughter, or others. The goal is to explore how architecture alone can generate emotional responses through spatial scale, sequence and movement, colour, lighting, and materiality.

As an ideas competition, participants may select any site—real or imaginary—and define the size of their proposal. Museum of Emotions is one of Buildner’s silent competitions, requiring participants to communicate their ideas without the use of text. All concepts and design intentions must be conveyed exclusively through visual representation.

PRIZES

3 winning proposals, 1 special award recipient and 6 honourable mentions will be selected. Buildner will award a total of 8,000 € in prize money to competition winners as follows:

1st Prize - 4,000 €
2nd Prize - 2,000 €
3rd Prize - 1,000 €
+ 6 honourable mentions

Buildner Student Award - 1,000 €

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

Early Bird Registration: June 22 – September 10
Advance Registration: September 11 – November 12
Last Minute Registration: November 13 – January 21

Final registration deadline: January 21, 2027
Closing date for submission: February  22, 2027 (23:59 LONDON TIME)
Announcement of the winners: April 13, 2027

More: https://architecturecompetitions.com/museumofemotions9/