Organizer
Buildner Architecture Competitions, in strategic partnership with ArchDaily

Location
International competition (global participation)

Deadline

• Final registration deadline: March 2, 2026
• Submission deadline: April 13, 2026 (23:59 London Time)
• Winners announcement: June 16, 2026

Competition Category
Residential architecture design (contemporary home design focusing on natural light and shadow utilization)

Eligibility
Open to all (no professional qualification required, individual or team entries, max 4 team members)

Entry Fee
Varies by registration period:

• Early Bird: €110 (full award)/€70 (no monetary award)
• Advance: €120 (full award)/€80 (no monetary award)
• Last Minute: €140 (full award)/€100 (no monetary award)
  Student discounts available

Prizes/Awards

• Total prize fund €10,000: 1st Prize €5,000, 2nd Prize €2,500, 3rd Prize €1,000
• 6 Honorable Mentions
• Buildner Student Award €1,000
• Buildner Sustainability Award €500
• Publication on Buildner website (1M+ annual visitors) and ArchDaily
• Interview and movie opportunities for winners
• Publication in a book

Core Introduction
The Home of Shadows Edition #4 Architecture Competition invites participants to design a home for a hypothetical couple with just one rule - there can be no artificial light within the home . The competition aims to explore how natural light can influence and shape architectural decisions, studying how the harmony between light and shadow creates spaces with depth and texture . Participants may select any theoretical site and propose a fully functional building design, focusing on how simple placement of windows or doors can create different moods for different purposes . This competition is part of Buildner's strategic partnership with ArchDaily on "The Contemporary Home", aiming to redefine our relationship with natural light and promote sustainable design .