The Sacred City of Quilmes, tucked away in the Calchaquí Valleys of Argentina, is more than a mere archaeological site; it is a profound testament to the resilience of the Diaguita-Calchaquí people. Now, a new international competition—Ruinas de Quilmes: The Contemporary Open-Air Museum—is calling upon the global design community to rethink how we engage with this ancestral landscape.
PRIZE FUND: 9,000 €
1ST PLACE: 4,000 €
2ND PLACE: 2,000 €
3RD PLACE: 1,000 €
5 Golden Mention: Coupon for a Free Membership*
10 Honourable Mentions: Coupon for a Free Competition*
* The total of the mentioned coupons is 2,000 €
DATE:
Closing date for project submission: 16 October 2026 - 14:00 (London Time)
Announcement of the winners: 16 November 2026 - 11:00 (London Time)
PARTICIPANT: Everyone (No professional qualifications required)
COST*:
Early Registration (28 Apr - 17 Jul): 69 €
Standard Registration (17 Jul - 18 Sept): 99 €
Late Registration (18 Sept - 16 Nov): 139 €
*Subscribe from €19/month for unlimited access to multiple competitions.
This isn’t just a call for a building; it is a challenge to bridge the gap between a pre-Columbian past and a modern visitor’s journey.
The Core Challenge: A Gateway to History
The centrepiece of the brief is the creation of a new Visitor Centre. Conceived as the primary gateway, this structure must serve as a threshold between the modern world and the sacred grounds.
However, the competition's scope extends far beyond a singular footprint. Participants are tasked with developing an integrated strategy that weaves together:
Architecture: The physical structures that house information and provide shelter.
Landscape: The rugged, high-altitude terrain that defines the site’s spirit.
Heritage: The invisible layers of history and culture that demand respect and preservation.
Beyond the Building: Small Interventions, Big Impact
A unique aspect of this competition is its focus on micro-architectural and landscape interventions. Instead of focusing solely on a "hero" building, designers must consider the entire visitor experience through:
Accessibility: Creating pathways that respect the terrain while welcoming diverse visitors.
Narrative Devices: Informational markers and viewpoints that help "read" the ruins without being intrusive.
Resting Areas: Spaces that allow for quiet contemplation of the Calchaquí landscape.
The Integration Strategy
Success in this competition relies on a sensitive dialogue between the new and the existing. Designers must navigate the tension between the permanence of the ancient stone structures and the transience of modern materials.
Coherence: Ensuring every pathway and sign feels like part of a single story.
Sustainability: Respecting the delicate ecological and archaeological balance of the region.
Empathy: Acknowledging the site’s sacred status for descendant communities.
Why It Matters
The Ruinas de Quilmes competition represents a shift in how we approach heritage sites. It moves away from "preservation in a vacuum" toward an active, lived experience. By inviting visionary proposals, the competition seeks to strengthen the connection between the ancestors who built the city and the people who walk its paths today.
For architects and designers, this is an opportunity to contribute to one of Argentina's most significant cultural landmarks—crafting a legacy that honours the past while looking firmly toward the future.
"The scale and impact of the proposal remain open, encouraging a wide range of approaches – from discreet and minimal solutions that vanish into the landscape to more expressive and iconic interventions that stand as a contemporary tribute."
What if architecture could change the way we look at aging? In Beloeil, the newly designed shared spaces of the Cloria residence are doing exactly that. Designed by Taktik, this fresh approach to senior living leaves outdated conventions behind. Instead of rigid schedules and clinical spaces, the design encourages autonomy, freedom, and a vibrant sense of community.
When we think of a typical school, we usually picture a single, large building with long hallways and uniform classrooms. The Educational Complex Sirius takes that traditional idea and turns it completely upside down. Recently named a finalist in the 2025 WAF Future Projects: Education awards, Sirius is not just a school—it is a decentralized urban campus designed to function as a vibrant "miniature city."
When we think about the future of our cities, it is not just about the buildings that fill the skyline. It is about how people move, how communities connect, and how urban spaces adapt to a changing world. Recognizing the need for this big-picture thinking, the global design firm CannonDesign has officially welcomed Cityfi into its consulting practice.
For more than a century, the Allan Gardens Palm House has been a glowing jewel in the heart of downtown Toronto. Built in 1910 and standing as one of Canada’s last remaining Edwardian-era glass conservatories, this architectural landmark has long been a beloved green sanctuary for the city.
Lighting is no longer just about illuminating a room; it is about making a statement. Luminaire Authentik has recently unveiled FORMA, a striking new collection that sits perfectly at the intersection of minimalism and postmodernism. With FORMA, light transforms into a visual language of its own.
Nestled in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage district of Old Quebec, a historic building is embarking on an exciting new chapter. La Caserne, originally built in 1912 as a fire station and famously expanded in 1996 for Robert Lepage’s artistic laboratory, Ex Machina, has been transformed once again. Now home to the youth theatre company Les Gros Becs, this iconic space has been reimagined as a vibrant cultural hub designed specifically for young audiences.
The "Made in Canada" label on a piece of furniture isn't just a geographic fact—it’s a declaration of quality, ethical labor, and material integrity. But as international "fast-furniture" floods the market, the domestic industry is leaning heavily on an unsung hero to survive: Intellectual Property (IP).
Great architecture does more than simply house people; it shapes how they learn, create, and connect with the world around them. Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) has long understood this, and the architectural community agrees. Recently, UQAM’s iconic pavillon de Design was awarded the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s (RAIC) Prix du XXe siècle, a prestigious honour that recognizes the most outstanding and enduring architectural achievements of the last century.
