The 18th Able Space Design Competition: Call for Entries Begins with the Theme "Room of the Heart"; Grand Prix Work to be Exhibited Full-Scale at Spiral Garden (Aoyama, Tokyo)

Able Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter "Able") will hold the "18th Able Space Design Competition" targeting university students, graduate students, vocational school students, and technical college students, with the aim of discovering and supporting talented students.

This competition will invite students to submit their free and unique ideas and works under the theme of "Room of the Heart."

This competition will determine the Grand Prix winner through a two-stage judging process: a preliminary screening based on room design plans proposing new spaces in rental housing, followed by a final screening involving models and presentations.

The Grand Prix winning work will be exhibited full-scale over three days, from Friday, November 6th to Sunday, November 8th, 2026, in a 28㎡ space at Spiral Garden (Aoyama, Tokyo). Model exhibitions of other award-winning works will also be held. The final judging session, exhibition, and interviews with the Grand Prix winner will be streamed later as a special program on the YouTube channel "IMAGINE University."

Through this competition, Able aims to create a platform for presenting works and support the challenges of students who will lead the future.

Scenes from last year's Grand Prix full-scale exhibition and award-winning model exhibition

Introduction of Judges

Overview of the 18th Able Space Design Competition

■ Theme: Room of the Heart

■ Set Space: A 28㎡ one-room rental housing space (width 4m x depth 7m x height 2.4m)

■ Conditions: Installation of a bath, toilet, and kitchen (unit bath acceptable)

■ Judging Criteria: New space design in rental housing

■ Participants: University students, graduate students, vocational school students, technical college students

■ Application Method: Apply via the competition application form within the detailed URL below

■ Application Deadline: Monday, August 31st, 2026

■ Final Judging: Thursday, September 24th, 2026

■ Prizes:

Grand Prix

Prize money of 200,000 yen + full-scale exhibition of the work at Spiral Garden (Aoyama, Tokyo)

Semi-Grand Prix

Prize money of 100,000 yen + model exhibition of the work at Spiral Garden (Aoyama, Tokyo)

Award Winners (students nominated for the final judging session)

Model exhibition of the work at Spiral Garden (Aoyama, Tokyo)

■ Detailed URL: https://able-partners-creative.jp/compe_2026/

■ Organizer: Able Co., Ltd.

■ Cooperation: General Incorporated Association DESIGN ASSOCIATION Liberal Arts Association

■ Operation: TOKYO COMPANY Co., Ltd.

■ Past Competition Scenes

URL: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb8qywrBbvKUp49iwu5mLGC-dc_fzG6dG

Special program on YouTube channel "IMAGINE University"

Past Able Space Design Competitions

Scenes from the final judging, Grand Prix work exhibition, and award winner interviews

[Contact for details regarding application content, etc.]

General Incorporated Association DESIGN ASSOCIATION Liberal Arts Association

Space Design Competition Secretariat

MAIL: info@designassociation.jp