Competition introduction
The persecution of women perceived to be witches took place throughout Europe and America for several hundred years. Women who were classed as witches because of their non-Christian practices were tortured and killed from as early as the mid-1400s in Europe, and roughly 80,000 witches were put to death between 1500 and 1660.
It’s a common misconception that witches were burned at the stake. While no less horrible and final, witches were typically hanged both in England and in the American colonies, with roughly 30,000–60,000 women, men, and children executed during the main era of witchcraft persecutions.
Witch trials took place all over the world, but the most famous was the Salem Witch Trials which took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. During that year, over 150 women, men, and children were accused of witchcraft. A relatively small number compared to the Basque Witch Trials of the 17th century in Spain, in which around some 7,000 cases of witchcraft were heard.
It’s a common misconception that witches were burned at the stake. While no less horrible and final, witches were typically hanged both in England and in the American colonies, with roughly 30,000–60,000 women, men, and children executed during the main era of witchcraft persecutions.
Participants are asked to choose any injustice that is either currently ongoing or an issue from the past and select any site that would be an appropriate location for a theoretical memorial structure.
The Memorial for Witches competition is the first in an annual series that looks to remind the public of the ways in which society once dealt with irrational fears. Those who were feared and misunderstood were suppressed and victimized, a trend of social injustice that still takes place to this day.
Participants are asked to choose any injustice that is either currently ongoing or an issue from the past and select any site that would be an appropriate location for a theoretical memorial structure. Submitted designs could function as a source of education about past events, or a method of whistleblowing and raising awareness of ongoing injustices.
As this is an ideas competition, participants are free to choose any site location, real or imaginary, as well as the size of their structure.
Submitted designs could function as a source of education about past events, or a method of whistleblowing and raising awareness of ongoing injustices.
Download the full competition brief for more information!
The competition is open to all. No professional qualification is required. Design proposals can be developed individually or by teams (4 team members maximum). Correspondence with organizers must be conducted in English; All information submitted by participants must be in English.
Full competition brief
The full competition brief can be downloaded as often as required; no additional information will be provided after registration.
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- (!) FULL COMPETITION BRIEF
Prizes
Certificate of Achievement
Certificate of Achievement
Certificate of Achievement
+ 50 Points BUILDNER Architecture University Rankings
Publications
Certificate of Achievement
CERTIFICATE:
Buildner will also acknowledge the outstanding performance of all winners and honourable mentions with Certificates of Achievement.
Publicity campaign
The Buildner’s extensive global publicity campaign for the competition winners:
- "SEEN BY" ONE MILLION Results published on buildner.com - one of the leading websites in the industry and is visited by over one million unique visitors each year.
- "SEEN BY" 800 000 MORE Publications on Buildner's social networks (over 600,000 followers) and newsletter campaigns (over 200,000 subscribers).
- INTERVIEW Exclusive interview published with the results and shared on Buildner's social networks.
- MOVIE The competition winners will be granted and opportunity to submit a movie about themselves. The video will be published on the Buildner's website and social networks.
- MEDIA PARTNERS The competition results will get international art and design media coverage and will be featured in the world’s leading architecture media outlets.
Jury panel
Jury members shall under no circumstances be contacted by competition participants or their representatives. Participants who attempt to contact jury members, shall be disqualified.
All jury members are involved in the evaluation based on their availability at that time. All communication regarding the competition should only be carried out with Buildner staff. For any questions please contact us on [email protected]











Key dates
Closing date for registration
11 November, 2022
Closing date for project submission
15 December, 2022 (11:59pm London time)
Announcement of the winners
24 February, 2023
Competition Q&A deadline: 17 November, 2022
In order to guarantee equal opportunities to all competition participants,
no new questions will be answered after this deadline!
Registration fees
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Registration Deadline21 September - 11 November
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Architects / Enthusiasts / Companies135 €
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Students115 €
STUDENT REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Contact us to receive special student rates for group registrations (discount applies for 3+ registrations from one university/school) and to receive further information and support for getting your students involved in architecture competitions. Send us request from your university email address along with basic information about yourself and your university/school. Please note that only recognized university staff can apply for the reduced student rate.
Competition results in media

























