Total prize
Every place carries a story — not just of its past, but of its present values and future possibilities. Architecture can give form to those stories, offering a way to express culture, ideas, and identity without relying on words. A pavilion, in its simplicity and scale, is an ideal format for this kind of expression. It invites reflection, exploration, and dialogue. It is not about size or permanence, but about clarity of thought and the power of a spatial idea.
Pavilion Atlas 2026 is a design competition launched by Buildner, calling on architects and designers to reimagine how a country can present itself to the world — not through symbols or spectacle, but through architectural storytelling. Each participant is invited to design a conceptual pavilion for a country of their choice, using space to communicate a meaningful idea rooted in that place. What defines the country today? What questions is it asking? What could it share with the world through design?
Whether inspired by cultural traditions, ecological concerns, social values, technological aspirations, or political realities — the pavilion should serve as a spatial narrative. A statement. A story made architecture.
There are no restrictions on location, budget, or buildability. This is a conceptual design challenge. Focus on spatial storytelling, clarity of purpose, and imaginative execution.
Participants are encouraged to explore the full range of what a pavilion can be. It may be abstract or literal, futuristic or grounded in tradition. But above all, it should convey something essential about the country it represents — not as it is seen on a map, but as it is felt, lived, or imagined.
The full competition brief can be downloaded as often as required; no additional information will be provided after registration.
Full Competition Brief
Currently, the jury panel for Pavilion Atlas 2026 Architecture Competition has not yet been published. However, you can see the jury panels from previous competitions at the following link: https://architecturecompetitions.com/guest-jury
Buildner is committed to selecting the most qualified industry professionals to comprise its jury panels. These panels consist of architects and professionals from other relevant fields to ensure the most objective competition results. All communication regarding the competition should only be carried out with Buildner staff. For any questions, please contact us at [email protected].
Buildner's publicity campaign offers extensive exposure to the architectural community, ensuring that the results of the competition are seen by a vast audience:
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.
Winners will have the opportunity to submit a movie and an interview, boosting their recognizability and helping to build their name in the industry.
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
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 partnership
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As part of the competition results,
every participant receives a personalised design assessment
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.
In order to guarantee equal opportunities to all competition participants.
No new questions will be answered after this deadline.
In order to guarantee equal opportunities to all competition participants.
No new questions will be answered after this deadline.
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.
