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.
Total prize
100,000 €
The Kingspan MICROHOME 2026 invites architects and designers to pause and reconsider what is truly essential. In a world of constant expansion — of cities, technologies, and ambitions — this competition asks a simple question: Can less be more?
Now in its 11th edition, the MICROHOME competition continues Buildner’s exploration of architecture at its most refined scale. In partnership with Kingspan, a global leader in sustainable building innovation, this edition focuses on the idea that meaningful design begins not with excess, but with intention.
Can less
be more?
25 m²
Packed with creativity
A microhome is more than a small building. It is an exercise in restraint — a reflection on how simplicity, precision, and material honesty can lead to more responsible ways of living. Within just 25 square meters, participants are challenged to create spaces that feel complete: efficient yet warm, compact yet open, humble yet ambitious.
Designed for
the world
Small-scale
Big impact
Open to all
Register now
The Legacy of Winning Designs.
Below is the list of winners from the previous ten editions of the competition.
Buildner: What is a home?
This competition is part of the broader discussion that Buildner has initiated on the meaning of home. Buildner has been creating dialogue around what a home truly is through recent success stories such as the House of the Future in partnership with the Dubai Government (€250,000 prize fund), the Kingspan Microhome, and the AIA Denver Affordable Housing Challenge ($20,000 prize fund), each exploring new ways to rethink scale, culture, and affordability in housing.
Buildner's recent partners in housing innovation competitions:
Brief
The full competition brief can be downloaded as often as required; no additional information will be provided after registration.
Full Competition Brief
Jury
The jury panel for MICROHOME 2026 Architecture Competition has not yet been published. Buildner is committed to selecting the most qualified industry professionals to comprise its jury panels. These panels include architects and experts from related fields to ensure fair and objective evaluation of all entries. All communication regarding the competition should be directed exclusively to Buildner staff. Explore some of the names featured in previous MICROHOME competition jury panels:
Design assessment
Participants will have the option to request a personalised in-depth design assessment of their project for a fee after the competition results are published.
This feedback highlights the strengths of each submission and identifies areas for refinement, offering participants valuable insights into their work.
The design assessment serves as both a learning tool and a reflection of a project's performance. It helps participants better understand their submission, see how it compares with other entries, and identify opportunities for growth in future projects.
Prizes
100,000 €
Three winning proposals, two Buildner special award recipients, four Kingspan award recipients, and six honourable mentions will be selected. Buildner will award a total of €100,000 in prize money to competition winners as follows:
30,000 €
10,000 €
5,000 €
10,000 €
30,000 €
3x 5,000 €
Publicity campaign
The Buildner’s extensive global publicity campaign for the competition winners:
Buildner's Two million
The results are published on buildner.com, a leading website in the architecture industry, attracting over one million unique visitors annually. Additionally, the campaign extends to Buildner's social networks, which boast over 800,000 followers combined, and through newsletter campaigns reaching over 200,000 subscribers.
Microhome Magazine
Winners will be featured in the Buildner Microhome Magazine.
Interview and Movie
Winners will have the opportunity to submit a movie and an interview, boosting their recognizability and helping to build their name in the industry.
Extensive Media Network
Buildner leverages an extensive network of media industry leaders to publish the competition results. This broadens the audience further, ensuring that participants' work is showcased across multiple platforms known for their influence and reach in the architecture and design sectors.
Publicity
ArchDaily feature
As part of the collaboration between Buildner and ArchDaily, the competition winners will be showcased on ArchDaily, a leading architecture news platform.
This feature will greatly boost the winners' visibility to millions of architecture professionals and enthusiasts worldwide, increasing their chances for new opportunities, attracting new clients, and establishing their reputation in the industry.
Read more about Buildner and ArchDaily partnershipEligibility
This international competition is open to architects, artists, and creatives from all backgrounds. Whether you are an emerging talent, an established professional, or exploring a bold new idea, your vision is welcome. All submissions must be completed in English to ensure fair evaluation.Key dates
Send reminders30 September 2026
5 October 2026
In order to guarantee equal opportunities to all competition participants.
No new questions will be answered after this deadline.
2 November 2026
15 December 2026
5 October 2026
In order to guarantee equal opportunities to all competition participants.
No new questions will be answered after this deadline.
Registration fees
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.
Why would you want to enter an architecture competition?
Learn – Gain real world experience
Create – Explore bold architectural ideas
Show – Earn global recognition
Connect – Open doors to new clients
Why Buildner?
The world’s leading architecture competition organiser!
15
years of experience




