Steven Chu's 'Sound of Rain' Wins Grand Prize in 'NOT A HOTEL DESIGN COMPETITION 2026'

NOT A HOTEL Inc. (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 winners were determined during a public judging session held today, Saturday, March 28, following presentations and Q&A sessions with the 10 finalists. The Grand Prize was awarded to 'Sound of Rain' by Australia-based Steven Chu. Additionally, the newly established 'Student Award (U-25)' was presented to 'IN-BETWEEN.' This second edition of the competition attracted 1,058 entries from 112 countries and regions, marking a significant increase in international interest. The Grand Prize-winning project will be constructed in the Yakushima area. ■ Overview of 'NOT A HOTEL DESIGN COMPETITION 2026' The 'NOT A HOTEL DESIGN COMPETITION' aims to provide creative opportunities for architects and creators under 40, realizing new architecture from diverse perspectives. Selected works are built and sold as the next 'NOT A HOTEL' properties. The setting for the 2026 competition was the Yakushima area, where 'NOT A HOTEL YAKUSHIMA,' designed by Jean Nouvel, is located. The site features a mystical landscape of ancient nature, including thousand-year-old Yakusugi cedars, white sandy coastlines, and moss-covered rocks. Participants were invited to submit architectural ideas for a structure that could function as both a private residence/vacation home and a hotel. Furthermore, a new 'Student Award (U-25)' was established this year as a 'free-form award' not tied to construction or sales, providing a platform for students aspiring to careers in architecture and design. 【Overview】 Application Period: September 22, 2025 – January 11, 2026 Total Applicants: 2,128 teams, 4,250 individuals (from 112 countries and regions) Total Submissions: 1,058 projects Eligibility: Under 40 as of April 1, 2025; no architectural license required Judging Method: Two-stage process (First round: document screening; Second round: public judging) Prizes: Grand Prize (1 project): 10 million JPY (tax included) + separate design fee Excellence Award (4 projects): 500,000 JPY each (tax included) Honorable Mention (5 projects): 150,000 JPY each (tax included) Student Award (1 project): 1 million JPY (tax included) *For those under 25 as of April 1, 2025 Judges (titles omitted, in no particular order): Bjarke Ingels, Founder & Creative Director, Bjarke Ingels Group Sou Fujimoto, Representative Director, Sou Fujimoto Architects Masamichi Katayama, Representative, Wonderwall Inc. Shinji Hamauzu, Co-CEO/Chief Visionary, NOT A HOTEL Inc.