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invitation-only competition

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Among Buildner’s competition formats, invitation-only competitions stand out for their exclusivity and prestige. Designed as private events, they engage only a carefully selected group of leading architectural firms, ensuring the highest level of creativity and professionalism.

This format is ideal for clients seeking exceptional quality, signature design concepts, and collaboration with world-renowned architecture studios.

Selective participation
Selective participation

Invitation-only competitions are closed to the public and limited to a few carefully chosen, high-profile architects and designers. This exclusivity ensures outstanding creativity and top-tier submissions.

High stakes and large prize funds
High stakes and large prize funds

These competitions often feature substantial prize funds that attract leading talent and motivate participants to deliver exceptional work.

Confidentiality and control
Confidentiality and control

Projects remain private, allowing participants to work freely and creatively without public scrutiny while organizers maintain full control over timing and communication.

Prestige and honor
Prestige and honor

Participation is by invitation only — a mark of distinction for both organizers and architects. This prestige drives extraordinary effort, resulting in innovative, high-quality design outcomes.

Why invitation-only
architecture competition?

Invitation-only competitions represent the pinnacle of architectural competitions, combining exclusivity, prestige, and high-quality submissions.

Quality over quantity

Focus on fewer, higher-quality submissions from top architects to ensure only the best ideas are considered.

Focused attention

With select participants, every proposal receives detailed evaluation and recognition from the jury.

Enhanced innovation

Elite competition drives creativity and groundbreaking design solutions.

Strategic confidentiality

Projects stay private and secure — ideal for sensitive or high-profile initiatives.

Buildner is your gateway to
the world's elite architects

Through our extensive jury network of leading architecture firms, we can provide both
world-class juries and invite these superstar companies to participate in your exclusive event.

Some of our partners include:

Invitation-only competition:
350,000 € Prize, Manila Bay Central Park Challenge

COMPETITION ORGANISERS

Official PARTNER

Buildner, in partnership with SM Prime Holdings, Inc., launched an invitation-only competition in Manila: The Manila Bay Central Park Challenge.

This prestigious competition aimed to design a landmark park for Manila’s future Central Business District, with a prize fund of 350,000 euros. The client ambitiously set a goal to create a space that rivals the iconic Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The competition sought to develop a sustainable and iconic public space that would serve as a visual and cultural beacon for the city.

Case study: The Buildner–Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) & Dubai Government partnership

How Dubai's public-sector partners used an international competition to shape new human-scale design elements across the city.

DUBAI URBAN ELEMENTS CHALLENGE /
500,000 EURO PRIZE FUND

The Dubai Urban Elements Challenge called on architects and designers to rethink the small but influential components of the city's public realm—such as benches, lighting, pedestrian bridges, shading structures, and bike facilities. Participants were tasked with creating a unified design language for seven distinct urban zones, each with its own density, character, and cultural context. The brief focused on elevating everyday urban elements to strengthen Dubai's identity, improve comfort in extreme climate conditions, and support more cohesive, walkable, and engaging public spaces across the city.

Learn more

Case study: The Buildner-Dubai innovative partnership

Insights into a pioneering architectural collaboration between Buildner and Dubai government

HOUSE OF THE FUTURE COMPETITION /
250,000 EURO PRIZE FUND

The "House of the Future" competition, initiated by the Dubai government, challenges architects and designers to develop innovative housing designs for Dubai's residents. The primary goal is to create homes that are culturally resonant, aesthetically pleasing, sustainable, and smart, all within a budget of no more than 1 million Emirati Dirhams.

Learn more

The House of the Future competition reaffirmed Dubai's position as a beacon of innovation and creativity on the global stage, driven by our dedication to improving the quality of life for the people of Dubai.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council

Buildner + Norman Foster Foundation and UNECE
in Ukraine

COMPETITION ORGANISERS

Buildner, in collaboration with the Norman Foster Foundation, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), ARUP, and the Kharkiv City Council, has launched an architecture competition in Kharkiv, Ukraine. This competition addresses the urgent need for reconstruction in the city, which is located near the Russian border and has been significantly impacted by the ongoing conflict.

Participants have the chance to see their designs realized, with winning projects being developed into detailed construction plans in collaboration with local teams. This initiative not only aims to repair but also to improve living conditions, offering a unique opportunity to positively impact Kharkiv’s future resilience and quality of life.

Competition

Case study: The Buildner–Mujassam Watan Initiative partnership

How a national cultural initiative in Saudi Arabia used an international competition to shape landmark sculptures for two major public sites in the Eastern Province.

MUJASSAM WATAN URBAN SCULPTURE CHALLENGE /
50,000 EURO PRIZE FUND

The Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge invited architects and artists to design site-specific sculptures for two strategic locations: Abu Hadriyah Road, a gateway highway linking Saudi Arabia with its Gulf neighbours, and the Tharwa Sea Front in Al-Khobar, a contemporary waterfront district. The brief asked designers to create works that express Saudi identity, reflect national heritage and future aspirations, and respond to each site's distinct conditions—high-speed highway visibility on one hand, and public waterfront engagement on the other. The competition aimed to generate bold, durable, and meaningful landmarks that enhance the cultural landscape of the Eastern Province and support the Kingdom's broader vision for renewal and creative expression.

Learn more

Case study: Kingspan's Microhome

Kingspan teams up with Buildner for architectural innovation!

COMPETITION ORGANISERS

Official PARTNER

Kingspan, a global leader in high-performance insulation and building envelope solutions, has joined forces with Buildner, renowned for orchestrating some of the most dynamic and engaging architectural competitions worldwide.

This collaboration has paved the way for the Microhome Competition, a platform not only showcasing cutting-edge design but also emphasizing sustainability and innovative use of Kingspan's products. This partnership underlines a shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of architectural creativity, offering a unique stage for designers and architects globally to display their talents and vision.

Case study

Buildner’s expertise in managing global competitions ensures a diverse range of ideas and solutions, fostering a rich dialogue among participants and the wider industry. As [MICROHOME competition] partners, we appreciate the ability to connect architects, designers and enthusiasts from around the world, creating a vibrant community focused on the future of living spaces.

Kingspan Group
Fiona Barry

Why Buildner?

Fast facts

15

years of experience

177

successfully organised
competitions

See all results

558

guest jury members

See our guest jury

1190

awards granted

Testimonials

Our process

01 Kickoff & goals

We have a short discussion to agree on success metrics, audience, key dates, and budget.

02 Research & write the brief

We gather context and draft the brief (what to design, what to submit, how it's judged). You review; we finalize.

03 Pick the jury

We suggest a balanced list of experts, check for conflicts, and send invitations. You confirm the final panel.

04 Prep the launch

We build the competition webpage, visuals, timeline, and marketing plan. You approve the launch package.

05 Go live & support

Registration opens. We run the platform, answer Q&A, handle tech support, and send you a short weekly update.

06 Judging

Submissions close. We check entries, the jury reviews and meets, and a shortlist and winners are chosen.

07 Announce winners

We publish the results page, press release, and social toolkit. Winners are notified and prizes are paid.

08 Wrap-up next steps

You get a clear impact summary (entries, reach, key insights) and options for a webinar, exhibition, or follow - up work.

Your role

Brief

We write it. You just review for accuracy and must - haves, then approve.

Jury

We propose a balanced panel. You green - light the final list (and can suggest any must - include names).

Launch package

We build the webpage and visuals. You check brand usage/ logos and give the go - ahead to launch.

Shortlist

We run judging and share the shortlist. You can add comments or simply acknowledge it.

Results & press

We draft the results page, press release, and social copy. You approve quotes, titles, and logo usage.

Conference room with presentations

What we do

We design and deliver global, open architecture competitions and grants end-to-end—strategy, brief, jurying, operations, media, and impact reporting

Who we serve

  • Private individuals
  • Brands & product companies
  • Cities, public agencies & NGOs
  • Real estate developers
  • Educational institutions

Prize and scale range

From €10,000 to €500,000 prize funds. Recent examples:

€10k Portugal SPA
€20k AIA Denver Affordable Housing
€100k MICROHOME with Kingspan
€250k House of the Future (Dubai)
€500k Dubai Urban Elements Challenge

558 JURY NETWORK

Norman Foster

Norman Foster

Norman Foster Foundation
Spain

Philippe Starck

Philippe Starck

Creator
France

Farshid Moussavi

Farshid Moussavi

Farshid Moussavi Architecture (FMA)
United Kingdom

Alison Brooks

Alison Brooks

Alison Brooks Architects
UK

Lyndon Neri

Lyndon Neri

Neri&Hu Design and Research Office
China

Amanda Levete

Amanda Levete

Founder, AL_A

Francine Houben

Francine Houben

Founding Partner, Mecanoo
Netherlands

558 Jury Network

How we curate juries

Balance by geography, practice type, and expertise; combine practitioners, educators, curators, and brand/agency voices to match the brief and ensure rigorous debate
(See extended jury roster on our site).

How we keep it fair

Clear competition rules and terms, conflict-of-interest safeguards, and platform-level identity verification (KYC) to protect integrity and participants.

We also collaborate closely with ArchDaily via a formal content partnership around our flagship awards

Audience

Reach & visibility

Demographics & Composition

92% professional participation (licensed architects,
designers, and companies), with a 8% student share for
fresh academic perspective.

43%
34%
15%
8%
Architectural designers
Licensed architects
Companies
studios/firms
Students
3rd
United Kingdom
2nd Italy
1st
United States

Top countries by submissions

latest cycle shown

Audience & Visibility

Buildner owned channels

2M+ annual visitors
Website
300K+ subscribers
Newsletter
1M+ followers
Social media

Guaranteed media partnership

Strategic partner
The world's largest architecture news site
18M monthly visits
Reach
Guaranteed visibility
Recurring winner highlightsand editorial series
Additional content
Live webinars and events

Testimonials

"More than a partner — a trusted advisor driving innovation in urban design"
SM PRIME
"Seamless, professional, and transparent process that fostered creative solutions and award-winning projects"
Turenscape
"Exceeded expectations – A successful global campaign that built community and showcased visionary ideas"
Kingspan Group
"The House of the Future competition reaffirmed Dubai's position as a beacon of innovation and creativity on the global stage, driven by our dedication to improving the quality of life for the people of Dubai"
Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council
"Buildner's expertise in curating and managing international design competition enabled a seamless process—one that successfully attracted globally recognized talent and fostered a rich exchange of ideas"
David González Márquez
Secretary-General
Norman Foster Foundation

Partners

Buildner’s academic network

Buildner has established one of the most extensive university networks in architecture, currently connecting with 1,300+ institutions worldwide. This reach provides invaluable access to academia, engaging students and faculty while fostering the next generation of architects.

Explore our current ranking of the most engaged universities here.

Next steps & contact

Schedule a 10-minute call

01 Quick intro

We'll help you find the right competition format, prize fund, and level of storytelling you need.

02 Tailored plan

We'll help you find the right competition format, prize fund, and level of storytelling you need.

03 Clear path

You'll leave with a clear plan and a simple list of approvals we'll handle together.

What we'll ask you

Objectives

What does success look like for you? (e.g., brand awareness, insights, hiring)

Topic/Site

What are your preferred launch and results dates?

Budget

What is your target prize fund and comfort range for organizing and marketing?

Must-Haves

Are there any jury names, regions, languages, or specific brand guidelines we need to include?

Contact us today!

Send a message
Government agencies Non-profit organisations Real estate developers Construction product brands
Educational institutions Hospitality industries Cultural institutions Invitation-only Competitions

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