Re:Form – New Life for Old Spaces
Dezeen Competitions: Re:Form – New Life for Old Spaces invites designers to choose a neglected, used or abandoned site anywhere in the world and give it a new purpose.
The competition challenges designers to embrace adaptive reuse and propose a new purpose for a previously used site. The competition is a bid to address the urgent environmental and spatial challenges the built environment faces and to embrace and reimagine what already exists.
This competition is now closed
Organiser: Buildner
Competition: Re:Form – New Life for Old Spaces
Judges:
- Jiafeng Li, architectural designer at Allied Works
- Paul Monaghan, executive director and Head of Design Studio AHMM
- Julien De Smedt, founder and director at JDS Architects
- Anne Cecilie Haug, senior architect at Snøhetta
- Tom Schroeder, associate at Patkau Architects
- Haggai Dror, founder and CEO of AggEquo
- Herwig Spiegl, founding partner and principal of AllesWirdGut
Submission deadline: 2 September 2025
Winner announcement: 7 October 2025
Prizes: There will be three winning proposals, two special award recipients and six honourable mentions. There is €10,000 in prize money for competition winners as follows: 1st prize: €5,000; 2nd prize: €2,500; 3rd prize: €1,000; Buildner Student Award: €1,000; Buildner Sustainability Award: €500
Competition overview
Participants are tasked with choosing an existing structure anywhere in the world – either currently in use, abandoned, or forgotten.
Examples include abandoned warehouses, neglected sheds or an underutilised corner of a residential building. Participants can propose any type of use, from commercial and cultural spaces to community or residential facilities.
Eligibility and judging criteria
The competition is open to any participant over the age of 18.
No professional qualifications are required. Proposals can be submitted individually or by teams of up to four individuals.
The proposals should demonstrate how a limited footprint can be transformed into an impactful and relevant design.
Submissions must rethink how existing structures can serve new purposes, make a positive impact on their communities and meet contemporary needs. The competition aims to bring new perspectives to old spaces, spotlighting how adaptation can be a powerful tool in developing a sustainable future.
How to enter
Any building or structure in any condition and location can be chosen. Designs should fit within a footprint of approximately 250 square meters.
Submissions should not only reinvent the space but show how the changes have a positive impact on the surrounding community and area.
There is no predefined budget but entrants are encouraged to rationalise expenses and prioritise cost effectiveness.
Submission requirements:
- One A2 landscape-orientated presentation board with renderings, plans, sketches, diagrams, and other presentation techniques to explain the proposal. Full details are on Buildner’s website
- No video files are accepted
- All information provided in writing must be in English
- Submissions must be uploaded to the online upload panel, which will provide participants with instructions on how to upload their presentation board
- Presentation boards must be anonymous and not include an individual’s or team’s identity
Submission deadlines
The final registration deadline is 24 July 2025. The closing date for submissions is 2 September 2025 and the winners will be announced on 7 October 2025.
About Buildner
Buildner showcases international architecture competitions, providing a platform for designers and architects to showcase their work and shape the future of the built environment. For over ten years, the platform has published more than 140 competitions and had over 400 guest jury members.
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