Organizer

The Passive House Network with Passive House California

Location

California, USA (The competition aims to inform rebuilding efforts in the Altadena and Pacific Palisades communities of Los Angeles)

Deadline

• Submission Deadline: Midnight, September 30, 2025
• Winners Announced: Los Angeles, Evening of Nov 4, 2025 (Location TBA)

Competition Category

• High-performance homes design
• Fire-resilient design
• Meet Passive House Classic certification or higher
• Designs must reflect one of five aesthetic styles: Craftsman, Spanish Colonial Revival, Mid-Century Modern, Ranch Style, or Contemporary

Eligibility

Unlimited (All are welcome to submit. There is no professional qualification for the submitters) .

• PHN & PHCA employees and competition judges are not eligible to submit a project .
• PHN & PHCA board members may submit as part of a team .

Entry Fee

Free (No entry fee is required) .

Prizes/Awards

• Cash Prize: 2000 Cash Prize for the winner in Craftsman & Spanish Colonial styles. 1000 Cash Prize for the winner of the remaining categories .
• Membership: 1 year free PHN Membership for each team member .
• Media Exposure: Design Feature on the PHN Website for all category winners .
• Publication: Inclusion in a competition catalog – a printed and downloadable resource – for all qualified entries .
• Additional Prize: 1 Night’s Stay at the Certified Passive House hotel, Hotel Marcel .

Core Introduction

This design competition responds to the devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires by developing a groundbreaking catalog of high-performance homes to inspire and inform the rebuilding efforts in the Altadena and Pacific Palisades communities . The competition invites architects and designers to showcase the power of Passive House in creating sustainable, healthy, and diverse fire-resilient communities .