Competition introduction

Competition organisers

Timber 
Skyscraper

The SKYHIVE Timber Skyscraper Challenge is the sixth annual architecture competition searching for iconic and unique designs for a high rise structure. The SKYHIVE Challenge series has always been about seeking out and implementing new technologies, new concepts and new materials to reimagine what a state-of-the-art skyscraper would look like and how it would function.

 

 


This year, there’s an added twist in that we are tasking architects and designers to create designs for a skyscraper constructed primarily out of timber. As always, the jury will be looking for designs that take a new and original approach to aesthetics and spatial organization, and will pay extra attention to those that incorporate sustainability in the heart of their designs.

The SKYHIVE Timber Skyscraper challenge is looking for designs that not only look and function differently, but also those structures that in some way tackle economic, social, and cultural problems through the establishment of new architectural methods – all constructed from timber.

As in previous challenges, there is no defined competition site, so participants are able to select any hypothetical site measuring 130m x 80m which can be accessed by roads on two sides. Designs can be set in the city of their choice anywhere in the world, as long as the project is in keeping with the region’s skyline and surroundings.



The annual SKYHIVE Challenge is a platform to examine the relationship between skyscrapers and the natural world, the community, and the city as a whole. It is important that designs show consideration for the impact on the surrounding environment, as well as how the increase in inhabitants will affect the current infrastructure, pollution levels, economic division, and urban sprawl.

Participants in the SKYHIVE Timer Skyscraper Challenge are allowed to interpret the competition brief however they choose, in the most creative way possible as it’s a chance for architecture enthusiasts to potentially rewrite the definition of the modern-day skyscraper, one made primarily from timber.

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.

  • - (!) FULL COMPETITION BRIEF

Prizes

7,000 €
Total Prize Fund
1st PRIZE
3,000 €
Publications
Certificate of Achievement
2nd PRIZE
1,500 €
Publications
Certificate of Achievement
3rd PRIZE
1,000 €
Publications
Certificate of Achievement
BUILDNER STUDENT AWARD (more details)
1,000 €
+ 50 € ARCHHIVE BOOKS Gift Card 
+ 50 Points BUILDNER Architecture University Rankings

Publications 
Certificate of Achievement
BUILDNER SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
500 €


Publications 
Certificate of Achievement
+ 6 HONOURABLE MENTIONS

 

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]  

 

Find the extended list of jury panel biographies here!

Hayri Atak Hayri Atak Architectural Design Studio (HAADS) Turkey
Charley Brentnall Director of Xylotek United Kingdom
Sam Brown Co-founder of O’DonnellBrown Scotland
Thomas Corbasson Associate Architect, Chartier+Corbasson Architectes France
Jürgen Mayer H founding partner of J.MAYER.H und Partner Germany
Elke Sterling-Presser Co Founder and Director of Sterling Presser Architects and Engineers Germany
Nicolas Sterling Co Founder and Director of Sterling Presser Architects and Engineers Germany
Hans Jakob Wagner Research associate and doctoral candidate at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction, University of Stuttgart Germany
Luo Yujie Chief Architect and founder of LUO studio, Lecturer at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) China
Claudia Munk-von Flotow Key Development United States

Key dates

Closing date for registration

09 March, 2023

Closing date for project submission

07 April, 2023 (11:59pm London time)

Announcement of the winners

17 May, 2023

Competition Q&A deadline: 15 March, 2023

In order to guarantee equal opportunities to all competition participants,
no new questions will be answered after this deadline!

Registration fees

  • Registration Deadline
    05 January - 09 March
  • Architects / Enthusiasts / Companies
    145 €
  • Students
    115 €
+4.5% VAT

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

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F.A.Q.

Competition related questions

This project has no set budget.
No specific site has been selected for this competition.
As the site can be located in a city of participants choice the designs should follow the local municipal rules and regulations, however the aim of this competition is to redefine skyscraper design through the implementation of novel technologies, materials, programs, aesthetics, and spatial organizations therefore some of the local building rules can be ignored if a rational justification for it is provided.
In order for the structure to be considered a "skyscraper" it should be at least 10 floors high.

General questions

Click on "register now", fill in all the required fields, choose your payment method and submit your information. You will be forwarded to Paypal or CPS secure payment gateway, to cover the competition fee. Once we receive your payment, we'll send you an email with your username and password to upload your submission directly to the website.
You can add/remove/edit team member information as often as you want in the upload panel, up until the submission deadline.
Only one proposal per registration is permitted. Participants are entitled to register multiple times if they wish to participate in the competition with several proposals.
Yes we are in the process of negotiating with multiple international industry-related media representatives. The list of media partners is constantly updated on our website, please check it regularly to find latest updates.
Yes. If the jury panel selects a Student award's submission for the top 3, it will automatically be awarded both prizes.
Yes. If the jury panel selects a Sustainability award's submission for the top 3, it will automatically be awarded both prizes.
No. Competition entries are evaluated anonymously. The participant registration type is only revealed upon the announcement of the results.
Please contact us – [email protected] and we will address the problem directly.
The short answer is yes, you may submit a previously published design concept as long as you are the author. Before re-submitting your project, please carefully read the following clarification points listed here - architecturecompetitions.com/resubmit-your-design
As AI-generated images may be based on pre-existing work or generated using proprietary algorithms, it is best to check the specific terms and conditions of the AI tool used to generate the image to determine its ownership status. It may also be necessary to seek legal advice to fully understand the ownership rights and any restrictions that may apply. In general, it is not recommended to consider AI-generated images as your sole work or intellectual property unless you have obtained explicit permission to do so.
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