Hyper-Practical Internship "3days DESIGN CHAMPIONSHIP 2026" Launched, Where Winning Design is Actually Built and Sold

Open House Development Co., Ltd., a group company of Open House Group Co., Ltd., has announced the "3days DESIGN CHAMPIONSHIP 2026" internship and begun recruiting participants. The program targets students graduating in March 2028 who are majoring in living spaces, architecture, civil engineering, and design. This hyper-practical, competition-style internship involves the winning team's project being actually built and sold by Open House Development.

About "3Days DESIGN CHAMPIONSHIP 2026"

Now in its 13th year, this program is a hyper-practical competition for students graduating in March 2028. It attracts numerous applications from students nationwide each year, with a total of 1,695 participants to date. Its most significant feature is that "the winning team's project is actually built by Open House Development and sold to the public." Twelve houses have been built so far, all of which have been well-received by the market. A key characteristic is the program's seriousness, challenging students to design on "limited urban land," a company strength, while navigating real-world budgets and structural hurdles amidst recent material and housing price hikes. Students learn higher-level planning and design by receiving feedback on "cost sensitivity," "structural safety," and "legal regulations" from construction division employees working on the front lines. The program is highly praised for offering an overwhelmingly real experience that goes beyond mere workshops or fantasy designs. It is also a valuable opportunity for participating employees to encounter young talent and unique ideas, making it a fulfilling internship for both sides.

Special Website: https://recruit.openhouse-group.com/intern-gizyutsu/

Reference Video: https://youtu.be/GSBCYDzobbI?si=jfO7z_sAfxsDS839

Event Outline

- **Preliminary Competition**: Students who pass the initial screening form teams to participate in a new single-family home design competition based on a real plot of land in Tokyo. Teams freely devise and shape their ideas—from theme setting to design plans, drawings, perspectives, and models—while receiving feedback and advice from front-line construction employees.

- **GRAND FINAL**: Winning teams from the preliminaries advance to the "GRAND FINAL," scheduled for mid-October. The plan chosen as the best work will be built and sold, and the winning team will receive a cash prize of 500,000 JPY.

Schedule

- **3-Day Internship (Preliminaries)** - 2026-07-27 (Mon) to 2026-07-29 (Wed) - 2026-08-03 (Mon) to 2026-08-05 (Wed) - 2026-08-24 (Mon) to 2026-08-26 (Wed) - 2026-08-31 (Mon) to 2026-09-02 (Wed)

- **GRAND FINAL (Finals)** - Scheduled for mid-October

Eligibility

Applicants must meet all the following conditions: - Be an undergraduate, graduate, technical college, or vocational school student. - Belong to a department of architecture, housing environment, civil engineering, or design. - Be expected to graduate in March 2028.

Capacity (Preliminaries)

Approx. 40-42 participants per session, total 168 participants. *Applicants will participate in a selection process after applying.

GRAND FINAL Prizes

1. The house planned by the winning team will be actually built and sold by Open House Development. 2. A reward of 500,000 JPY.

Location

Open House Development, Shibuya Office (Shibuya Minami Tokyu Building, 3-12-18 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) *Full transportation expenses will be covered (subject to regulations).

Application Method

1. Apply for your desired information session date via the special website. 2. Attend the internship information session. 3. Common first interview. 4. Second interview. 5. Participation confirmed.

Message from the Head of Recruitment to Students

With the unique theme, "The winning work will be actually built and sold," the DESIGN CHAMPIONSHIP enters its 13th year. What we value is not ending with a "fantasy design." Because we actually build and deliver to customers, there are real-world difficulties such as regulations, costs, constructability, and marketability. At the same time, there is no greater reward than seeing your idea become a real building in a town, a home for someone. That is why in this internship, we want students to experience 'thinking things through like a professional.' This is a serious, practical internship that only Open House, a company genuinely aiming to be the best in Japan, can offer. The house born from this may support someone's life, and for you, it might be the 'very first house of your life.' We sincerely await your challenge.

Message from Last Year's Winner (Tomoyuki Tanaka, from University of Toyama)

Participating in this internship while I was uncertain about my future path, whether to go to graduate school or find a job, became a major turning point for me. The experience of designing a house that will actually be built was more difficult than I imagined; it requires thinking through not just design but also cost, constructability, and marketability. That's why the learning and sense of achievement were immeasurable, and the three days spent creating a single house with my team were an invaluable experience. Meeting motivated peers from all over the country and the company's employees was also a great asset. I highly recommend this internship not only to those who love architecture and design, but also to those who are unsure about their future. I believe it will be an opportunity to face your own potential and the original reason you aspired to a career in architecture.