EPIC Cabins Global Student Challenge: Design Living Landmarks
Competition Brief
Intent
The EPIC Cabins Global Student Design Challenge 2025 calls for the participation of architecture students and fresh graduates to present a cabin or micro-resort design that incorporates modular timber construction with ecological awareness. The emphasis is on designs that are mezzanine, adaptable, and possible for real-world application.
Purpose
The challenge investigates how hospitality architecture can connect with the natural environment and cultural context. It promotes the submission of ideas that are based on ecological responsibility, guest experience, and innovative modular solutions.
Requirements
Only architectural students or graduates not long back are eligible for the challenge. The team size can be a maximum of three. The entries must be new, and the submission must consist of a concept board, scaled floor plans and sections, a 3D rendering or drawing, and a brief writing about the concept and the regenerative strategy.
Jury
The public information does not reveal the names or qualifications of the jury. Instead, it is an international group of architects and hospitality experts that can be described.
Fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Entry fee | Not stated / appears to be free |
Rewards
| Prize | Description |
|---|---|
| 1st Prize | Design may be developed in collaboration with EPIC’s professional team. Includes mentorship and potential construction |
| 2nd Prize | Access to live global projects and behind‑the‑scenes experience |
| 3rd Prize | One‑on‑one mentorship and consulting on portfolio and design strategy |
| Additional Opportunities | Shortlisted projects may be showcased in media and receive network access |
Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Launch / Call for entries | September 5, 2025 |
| Submission Deadline | January 1, 2026 |
| Jury & Winners Announcement | March 1, 2026 |
✦ ArchUp Competition Review
The EPIC Cabins Global Student Design Challenge 2025, which is being conducted by the group EPIC that is concerned with modular and ecological hospitality design, is fully supported by the public information in terms of jury’s names and credentials, thus making the transparency about the jury’s expertise very minimal. The contest is of such a professional and academic nature that it is not intended for advertising, but rather it is focusing on the submission of the regenerative, adaptable, and feasible cabin or micro-resort designs. The prizes, which include among others mentorship, potential project collaboration, and exposure, are very much valuable, yet they might not completely correspond to the effort that is invested into the detailed submissions. The participants mostly gain the benefit of portfolio building and conceptual experience, but not the guarantee of project execution. Although the jury is composed of the international architects and hospitality professionals, the absence of specific credentials does not help to clarify the standards for evaluation.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The EPIC Cabins challenge invites students to explore the future of hospitality through eco-friendly design, and they would do so by combining the benefits of modular construction with the needs for ecology and human experience. Still, the lack of jury transparency gives reason to worry about the standards used for evaluation and the possibility of bias. The rewards are stunningly described but the actual project conditions and the feasibility of the execution remain obscure. A participant should put the project through a critical lens before making the commitment.
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ArchUp Editorial Management
Jury Committee Assessment:
· An “international group of architects and hospitality specialists” has been mentioned.
· No information is provided regarding the names or individual expertise of the members.
· A lack of transparency surrounding the evaluation process.
Analysis of the Competition’s Nature:
· Knowledge Value:
· Specialized topic in sustainable hospitality architecture.
· Focuses on modular construction and environmental solutions.
· Targeted at students and recent graduates.
· Organizational Aspects:
· Participation appears to be free of charge.
· Non-monetary prizes (career mentorship and collaboration opportunities).
· Clear schedule.
Final Assessment:
· Detailed information about the jury committee members and their expertise must be added.
· The organizing body (EPIC) and its track record in project implementation should be documented.
· It is recommended to verify the competition’s previous records.
· The topic is suitable for ArchUp and aligns with architectural specializations.
· The information gap regarding the jury must be addressed prior to publication.