Rome Rain Rooms - €10,000 - Registration Deadline 28 May 2026

Rome is a city of stone, sun, and ancient echoes—but it is also a city of water. From the grand aqueducts to the humble nasoni fountains, water has always been Rome’s civic pulse. Rome Rain Rooms invites you to continue this legacy by imagining small, reversible pavilions that transform a storm from an urban inconvenience into a profound civic celebration.

• PRIZE FUND: 10,000 €

  • 1ST PLACE: 5,000 €

  • 2ND PLACE: 2,500 €

  • 3RD PLACE: 1,000 €

  • Student Award: 1,000 €

  • Sustainability Award: 500 € 

• DATE:

  • Closing date for registration: 28 May 2026

  • Competition Q&A deadline: 2 June 2026

  • Closing date for project submission: 29 June 2026 - 23:59 (London Time)

  • Announcement of the winners: 15 September 2026

• PARTICIPANT: Everyone (No professional qualifications required)

• COST:

  • Advanced (15 Jan - 12 Mar): 105 € (Students: 85€)

  • Last Minute (13 Mar - 28 May): 135 € (Students: 105€)

BRIEF - Rome Rain Room - ENG.pdf

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The Vision: Architecture as a Rainmaker

The goal is to design a "Rain Room"—a temporary, modular, or reversible structure that acts as a sensory bridge between the city and the sky. This is not just about shelter; it is about choreographing the storm.

Participants must address two core dimensions:

• Environmental Performance: Each pavilion must be a functional machine, capable of capturing and storing at least 5 m³ of rainwater per storm. This water is then gifted back to the city to nourish neighbourhood trees, community gardens, or non-potable fountains.

• Sensory Delight: How does the rain sound hitting your structure? How does the light reflect off a stored pool? Designers are challenged to celebrate the mist, the movement, and the tactile presence of water, turning a rainy day into a social event.

The Site: Your Roman Canvas

There is no fixed location. Instead, the entire city of Rome is your laboratory. You may choose a site that enhances your narrative:

• A sun-drenched piazza in need of cooling and communal life.

• The edge of a bustling market where water can be repurposed for cleaning or irrigation.

• A quiet inner courtyard within the historic center, creating a hidden sanctuary of sound and reflection.

The intervention must be reversible, respecting Rome’s delicate historical layers while providing a modern solution to climate resilience.

A total of 10,000 € will be awarded to proposals that masterfully blend narrative clarity with technical water performance.

This competition is open to everyone—architects, landscape designers, urbanists, and students. No professional license is required to enter.

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