The Future of the Profession – Empowering the Next Generation in Participatory Urban Design

The UIA and UNESCO, through the UNESCO-UIA Charter for Architectural Education, have long been dedicated to preparing future architects to devise innovative solutions for the present and the future. As new eras usher in profound and complex challenges, particularly regarding the social and functional degradation of many human settlements, the need for visionary architectural responses becomes increasingly critical in shaping the qualitative development of the built environment in a rapidly changing world.

This initiative offers young architects an opportunity to contribute to one of the most prestigious cultural initiatives – the Biennale di Venezia. Through their participation, the next generation can demonstrate their vision for enhancing the experience of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The results was evaluated by an international jury, and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony held at Palazzo Zorzi – the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, in Venice. Their work will also be displayed in an exhibition at the commencement of the Biennale Architettura 2025, from 8 to 15 May.

Visit the UIA competition platform to register, ask questions or submit your project.

Keywords : Heritage, Tourism

Prizes

The total prize money available for the competition is € 15.000. Prizes are not subject to VAT.

1^st prize € 5.000 and a certificate
2^nd prize € 4.000 and a certificate
3^rd prize € 3.000 and a certificate
4^th prize € 2.000 and a certificate
5^th prize € 1.000 and a certificate

At its discretion, the jury may also decide to allocate up to five honourable mentions to proposals of particular merit. Honourable mentions will not carry a monetary prize.

Competition results

First Prize - Wandering medina

Competitor: Radical-J
Team Leader: Amath Luca Diatta
Team Members: Greta Allegretti, Letizia Allegretti, Pietro Brunazzi, Elena Paccagnella, Stefano Tremolada
Country: Italy

Second Prize - Under the Winding Hill

Competitor: CDH Team
Team Leader: Bui Minh Chau
Team Members: Nguyen Thi My Duyen, Pham Nguyen Gia Huy
Country: Vietnam

Third Prize - Tulou Consolidation

Competitor: Distortion Studio
Team Leader: Davide Contran
Country: Italy

Fourth Prize - Golden Gates

Competitor: DENARA
Team Leader: Francesco Rambelli
Team Members: Nicolò Calandrini, Mirko Tavaniello Boresi
Country: Italy

Fifth Prize - Visitor Center at Quebrada de Humahuaca

Competitor: AAtlas
Team Leader: Mateo Boasso
Team Members: Laura Paz
Country: Argentina

Theme and objectives

This competition aligns with Deep Surface: Polyfunctional architecture to enhance the experience of UNESCO designated sites, an exhibition organised by UNESCO in collaboration with The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU). The exhibition is scheduled to take place within the premises of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe (Venice, Italy) from 10 May to 23 November 2025, concurrently with the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. It will focus on the context-specific architectural and functional features of visitor centres in UNESCO-designated sites, namely World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves and UNESCO Global Geoparks. The exhibition will highlight their experiences and good practices in heritage interpretation, education, community-oriented services, enhancement of cognitive and physical site accessibility, and sustainable tourism management.

Building on these reflections, the UIA competition is also aligned with the theme of the UN-Habitat World Architecture Day 2024, Empowering the Next Generation in Participatory Urban Design. This theme encourages young architects to actively engage in participatory processes, underscoring their essential role in shaping sustainable development in connection with UNESCO sites.

Key criteria

Submissions will be assessed on the criteria below:

Compliance with the competition goals
Urban and architectural design
Social Impact
Sustainability
Contribution to improved Site Management
Coherence of overall concept

Jury Members

Manuel Herrero Sanchéz, Architect, Spain
Magdalena Landry, Director UNESCO Office Venice, Poland
Cristóbal Tirado, Architect, Chile,
Doan Than Há, Architect, Vietnam
Omar Degan, Architect, Somalia

Alternate Juror:

Giacomo Ardesio, Architect, Italy

Eligibility

The competition was open to young architects (individuals or in teams) from all over the world and complied with the following:

The author(s)/team leader(s) of the proposal had to have the right to use the title of architect in their country of origin or residence.
All participants had to have been born on or after 1 January 1989.
Students, associates, employees, family members, or anyone closely related to jury members and persons involved in the preparation of the competition were not allowed to participate in the competition.
Members of the UIA Council and the UIA Secretariat were not eligible to participate.

Multidisciplinary teams were encouraged. However, only architects could serve as team leaders or authors.