Architecture Competition Modular Home Design Challenge 2021 3rd prize winners – Carnegie Mellon University

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 3rd prize winners of our “Modular Home Design Challenge 2021” competition – Jerry Zhang and Tory Tan from Canada!

In terms of our academia background, Jerry and I are both third-year B-Arch students, studying at Carnegie Mellon University. Our current classes include a variety of different architectural subjects and techniques, such as urban planning and development, digital fabrication, environmental design, and formal explorations with texture-mapping software. Aside from our program, Jerry and I both have a subsidiary interest in drawing and creating concept art in our free time. I guess our love for visual and graphic design explains the extra effort that was put into representation and the visual aspects of our project.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been involved?

This modular housing competition was actually the first project that we worked on together as a team, but I am sure there will be more collaborations in the future between us. Modular housing has been an interesting subject for both of us for quite some time, as we are both fascinated by the amount of creativity and flexibility small/residential scale architecture can offer.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

In our current state of technological development, the role and the discipline of architecture has become increasingly diverse and complex. From the role of digital fabrication and the introduction of complex design algorithms to creating renewable construction materials and environmentally friendly buildings, architecture has become the nexus of the many overlapping sub-disciplines we see today. Ultimately, we think that there is an increasing need for the reintroduction of the role of the “master architect” whose skilfulness and mastery in the many diverse areas of architecture can lead to holistic and well-rounded projects that take into consideration the social, environmental, political, and the aesthetic impacts buildings can have on our built environment.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

The biggest reason for our participation is probably the fruitful learning experiences competitions are able to offer us. During the duration of this competition, we were not only able to improve our conceptual development and our representational/graphic sensibilities, but also our collective communicational skills and teamwork capabilities. Towards the end of the competition, there was a noticeable improvement in the coordination of our workloads and our ability to rely on each other’s strength.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

Pay the registration fee before you start so that you feel an obligation to complete your competition :)

Open architecture competitions

  • Closest Deadline first
  • Project competitions first
    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions first
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
project COMPETITION
Sansusī Forest Food Court

Design a sustainable food court structure for the heart of a classical music festival

Prize: MONETARY AWARD + CONSTRUCTION
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Jan 10
Feb 08
Apr 06
ideas COMPETITION
The Home of Shadows

Design a home with no artificial lighting

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Dec 05
Jan 24
Apr 18
project COMPETITION
Portugal Elderly Home

Design a comfortable and accessible home for the elderly in Portugal

Prize: MONETARY AWARD + CONSTRUCTION
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Dec 06
Jan 25
Apr 19
project COMPETITION
Portugal Olive Guest House

Design a guest house and olive oil tasting room located in Portugal

Prize: MONETARY AWARD + CONSTRUCTION
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Dec 08
Jan 27
Apr 21
project COMPETITION
Yoga House in the Bog

Design a yoga guest house located within rich bog wildlife

Prize: MONETARY AWARD + CONSTRUCTION
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Jan 11
Feb 08
Apr 26

Reccuring architecture competitions

ideas COMPETITION
MICROHOME
Small living, huge impact! Edition #6

Design a new concept of small-scale home

Prize: MONETARY AWARD + PUBLICATION IN MAGAZINE
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Feb 16
Apr 18
Jun 16
ideas COMPETITION
Silent contest
For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Museum of Emotions
Edition #3

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Mar 17
May 19
Jul 21
ideas COMPETITION
Silent contest
For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Architectural Visualization Award
Edition #2

Present your best work and submit your favorite architectural visualization

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Mar 23
May 25
Jul 27
Run repeatedly
Children's Hospice
Home for the Terminally ill / Edition #2

Design a safe and supportive space for children struggling with a terminal illness

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Dec 06
Feb 08
Apr 06
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Milan Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series #15

Design a concept for affordable housing in Milan

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Dec 07
Jan 26
Apr 20
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Virtual Home
Edition #2

Shape the future of digital living environments

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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May 02
Jul 04
Sep 06
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Office
Office Design Challenge / Edition #2

Reimagine the workplace of the future, and design the new way of working

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Jan 03
Mar 01
May 04
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Portable Reading Rooms
Edition #2

Design a portable reading room that encourages reading in any location

Prize: MONETARY AWARD + SCOLARSHIP
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Feb 13
Mar 23
May 15
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Pavilion Of Humanity: First Contact
Edition #2

How would you represent the best that humanity has to offer through architecture?

Prize: MONETARY AWARD
Eligibility: OPEN TO ALL

registration deadlines

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Mar 27
May 25
Jul 24
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Creativity gym Short term competitions for you to exercise your creativity

T-SHIRT DRAWING COMPETITION
The Architect's T-shirt
Edition #18

Design THE architect's t-shirt!

Prize: 3,000 €
Eligibility: open to all

registration deadlines

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Feb 28
Mar 31
Apr 30
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ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO COMPETITION
THE BUILDNER'S ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO COMPETITION
Edition #3

Submit your online portfolio!

Prize: 5,000 €
Eligibility: open to all

registration deadlines

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Apr 30
May 31
Jun 30
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Competition results

Hong Kong 
Pixel Homes

Hong Kong Pixel Homes

Affordable Housing Series #2
MICROHOME

MICROHOME

Small living, huge impact! Edition #4

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