The Students Apartment Competition 2026
Competition Brief
Organized by Terraviva, The Students Apartment is an international architecture and interior design competition inviting participants to transform a traditional two-bedroom apartment located on the sixth floor of a residential building in the historic centre of Pavia, Italy. The unit has been long unused and offers panoramic views over one of Italy’s most prestigious university cities. The challenge is to reimagine this space into a contemporary home conceived specifically for two or three university students. The competition is open to students, architects, designers, artists, engineers, urban planners, and creatives of all backgrounds, participating individually or in teams.
Intent
The competition invites participants to question how young people live today and how domestic architecture can evolve to support the reality of student life. Designers are asked to reflect on the hybrid nature of undergraduate routines, where studying, resting, socialising, and sharing everyday experiences all happen within the same walls. The project goes beyond renovation; it is an invitation to rethink the very model of student housing for a new generation. Explore related ideas in our Architecture section.
Purpose
The competition aims to generate innovative design proposals that can serve as a reference for the future of student living. By focusing on a specific and real apartment in Pavia, participants are grounded in genuine spatial constraints while still being free to propose radical transformations. Selected proposals will be published on Terraviva’s channels, contributing to a wider conversation about flexible, human-centred interior design.
Requirements
Each submission must include one A1 panel (59.4 x 84.1 cm, horizontal orientation) and a brief text describing the proposal between 250 and 500 words. The redesign must address the internal layout of the apartment and propose solutions that balance flexibility, comfort, privacy, and social interaction. Furniture systems, multifunctional solutions, adaptable spaces, and storage strategies are expected to play a significant role in the design approach. Participants may compete individually or as a team of any size. For inspiration on interior approaches, visit our Interior Design section.
Jury
The jury brings together architects and designers from across the globe. Matías Román Basualto of Román y Basualto Arquitectos represents Santiago, Chile. Derya Akdeniz Durmaz of Two Dots Design joins from Istanbul, Turkey. Pietro Antonioni of Pietro Antonioni Architetto contributes from Milan and Rimini, Italy. Valeryia Haletskaya of Heather Young Architects represents New York, USA. Adolfo Schlieper of Adolfo Schlieper Arquitectos joins from Rosario and Santa Fe, Argentina. Daria Yang Du of RIOS is based in Los Angeles, USA. Luan Fontes of SOM represents New York, USA. Kiranraj Siva Kumar of Nathan Michael Design joins from Chicago, USA.
Fees
| Registration Type | Period | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early | 20 May – 4 September 2026 | € 69 |
| Standard | 4 September – 16 October 2026 | € 99 |
| Late | 16 October – 6 November 2026 | € 139 |
Rewards
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st Prize | € 3,000 |
| 2nd Prize | € 2,000 |
| 3rd Prize | € 1,000 |
| 5 Golden Mentions | Coupon for a free membership |
| 10 Honourable Mentions | Coupon for a free competition |
| 30 Finalists | Published on Terraviva channels |
Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Competition Opens | 20 May 2026 |
| Early Registration Closes | 4 September 2026 |
| Standard Registration Closes | 16 October 2026 |
| Submission Deadline | 6 November 2026 |
| Winners Announced | 9 December 2026 |
✦ ArchUp Competition Review
The Students Apartment 2026 is a well-focused competition with a clear and relatable brief. By anchoring the challenge in a real apartment in Pavia, Terraviva avoids the vagueness that plagues many open calls, giving participants a genuine spatial problem to solve. The emphasis on hybrid student routines is timely and reflects a real shift in how young people use domestic space since the post-pandemic era. The jury is genuinely international and professionally diverse, spanning practice, academia, and different geographic contexts, which should produce a thoughtful and multifaceted evaluation.
The prize pool totals €6,000 in cash, which is modest but reasonable for an interior-scale competition. The registration fees are tiered fairly, and the early rate of €69 is accessible for students. The submission requirement of a single A1 board keeps the workload manageable, making this a practical entry point for emerging designers. One consideration worth noting is that the gap between the submission deadline in November and the winners announcement in December is quite short, suggesting a fast judging process. Overall, this is a solid opportunity for anyone interested in residential and student-focused interior design. Discover more competitions on ArchUp Competitions.
Conclusion
The Students Apartment Competition 2026 offers a focused and accessible challenge for architects and designers at all career stages. With a real site, a relevant brief, an international jury, and a manageable submission format, it stands as a worthwhile investment of creative energy for anyone passionate about the future of student living and interior design innovation.
Registration Deadline
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