NOT A HOTEL Co., Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter "NOT A HOTEL") has announced the grand prize winner of the "NOT A HOTEL DESIGN COMPETITION 2026," a design competition for architects and creators under 40. The awards were decided today, March 28th (Saturday), at a public judging session following presentations by 10 finalist teams and a Q&A session with the judges. The grand prize-winning work selected this time is "Sound of Rain" by Australia-based Steven Chu. Additionally, "IN-BETWEEN" was chosen for the newly established "Student Award (U-25)" this year.

This second iteration of the competition attracted 1058 entries from 112 countries and regions, garnering even more international attention than the previous event. The grand prize-winning work will be constructed in the Yakushima area.

"NOT A HOTEL DESIGN COMPETITION 2026" Overview

The "NOT A HOTEL DESIGN COMPETITION" aims to provide creative opportunities for architects and creators under 40, realizing new architecture from diverse perspectives. The selected works will actually be built and sold as the next "NOT A HOTEL."

The setting for the "NOT A HOTEL DESIGN COMPETITION 2026" is the Yakushima area, where Jean Nouvel's "NOT A HOTEL YAKUSHIMA" stands. It's a fantastic location woven from ancient nature, including thousand-year-old Yakusugi cedars, white sand coastlines, and moss-covered rocks. We sought architectural ideas that could be used as a NOT A HOTEL (home/villa and hotel) in this land.

Furthermore, a "Student Award (U-25)" was newly established this time to provide a stage for students aspiring to architecture and design, as a "free award" not bound by realization or sales.

【Overview】

Application Period: September 22, 2025 – January 11, 2026

Total Applications: 2128 teams, 4250 individuals (participating from 112 countries and regions)

Number of Submissions: 1058 works

Eligibility: Individuals under 40 years old as of April 1, 2025; no architect qualification required.

Judging Method: Two-stage process (First stage: Document screening, Second stage: Public judging session)

Prizes:

Grand Prize (1 work): 10,000,000 JPY (tax included) + separate design fee

Excellence Award (4 works): 500,000 JPY each (tax included)

Honorable Mention (5 works): 150,000 JPY each (tax included)

Student Award (1 work): 1,000,000 JPY (tax included) *For individuals under 25 years old as of April 1, 2025

Judges (titles omitted, in no particular order):

Founder & Creative Director, Bjarke Ingels Group Bjarke Ingels

Sou Fujimoto, Representative Director, Sou Fujimoto Architects Inc.

Masamichi Katayama, Representative, Wonderwall Inc.

Shinji Hamauzu, Co-CEO/Chief Visionary, NOT A HOTEL Co., Ltd.

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  • Source: PR Times
  • Category: News