Overview
The Last Nuclear Bomb Memorial / Edition #6 is the sixth installment of Buildner’s annual international architecture competition. With nuclear tensions rising amid global political instability, this competition invites architects, students, and designers to respond to one of the world’s most pressing, yet often overlooked, threats: nuclear weapons. Participants are asked to design a memorial situated within a decommissioned nuclear weapons testing site—entirely without using any text. The architecture itself must narrate the message. This silent format challenges designers to communicate symbolically through form, material, light, and spatial experience.
Why You Should Participate
This competition offers participants a platform to explore architecture as a storytelling medium. With no textual explanation allowed, this is a rare opportunity to express complex historical, emotional, and political narratives using only design. It pushes creative limits, tests one’s ability to speak through space, and highlights the ethical responsibility of design in global discourse. Winners receive significant recognition, press exposure, and monetary awards, making it an ideal competition for architects, students, and studios who are interested in narrative architecture, history, and global justice.
Key Highlights
- Theme: A memorial that reflects the history and dangers of nuclear weapons
- Format: Textless design submissions only — visual communication required
- Site: Any decommissioned nuclear weapons testing location (fictional or real)
- Eligibility: Open to architects, students, designers, and studios worldwide
- Focus: Architecture that speaks for itself through visuals, materials, and form
Entry Fees
| Registration Phase | Dates | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early Bird Registration | April 17 – June 12, 2025 | €70 |
| Advance Registration | June 13 – September 10, 2025 | €90 |
| Last Minute Registration | September 11 – November 13, 2025 | €110 |
Participants must complete a separate entry for each submission.
Prizes and Recognition
| Award | Details |
|---|---|
| First Prize | €5,000 |
| Second Prize | €3,000 |
| Third Prize | €1,000 |
| Buildner Student Award | €1,000 |
| Honourable Mentions | 6 total (no monetary prize) |
Winners receive international media coverage, features on Buildner’s platforms, and professional exposure in architectural and academic circles.
Submission Details
- Submission Format: Visual-only (no description text allowed)
- Languages: None (silent competition)
- File Requirements: Drawings, diagrams, 3D visualizations – all visuals must communicate the concept
- Site Location: Chosen by participant — can be fictional or real
- Deliverables: Submitted digitally via Buildner’s platform
Important Dates
| Phase | Date |
|---|---|
| Final Registration Deadline | November 13, 2025 |
| Submission Deadline | December 15, 2025 (11:59 p.m. London Time) |
| Winners Announcement | February 10, 2026 |
How to Join
- Register via Buildner’s competition platform before the final deadline.
- Choose your concept and site for the memorial.
- Prepare a purely visual submission that tells a powerful story.
- Submit your design online by December 15, 2025.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
This competition masterfully confronts one of the gravest contemporary issues — nuclear warfare — through a silent yet visually provocative medium. The requirement for textless submissions intensifies the challenge, demanding that participants treat architecture as pure narrative. However, the open-ended site selection and absence of contextual parameters could limit the specificity of historical reflection. Still, this format empowers designers to explore universal language through space, form, and symbolism, fostering deeper contemplation on humanity’s collective memory and future.
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