Photo of abandoned house in Punta Bianca, Sicily

Punta Binaca – A Visitor Centre for a Sicilian Natural Reserve

Dezeen Competitions: TerraViva's competition invites architects and designers to submit restoration plans for a ruin located on the Agrigento coast in Sicily, Italy.

The competition asks participants to consider the natural environment surrounding the house when designing its reinvention.

This competition is now closed


Organiser: TerraViva
Competition: Punta Binaca – A Visitor Centre for a Sicilian Natural Reserve
Judges:

  • Antonino Margagliotta, professor at the University of Palermo
  • Carlos de Riaño Lozano, architect and founder of Riaño+Arquitectos
  • Ana Paula Wickert, architect and founder of W. Arquitetura e Urbanismo
  • Ju Bin, architect at Horizontal Designe
  • Mario Cottone, architect and co-founder of Cottone+Indelicato
  • Nadia Bertolino, professor at the University of Pavia
  • Sebastiano Amore, architect and co-founder of ACA
  • Gerard Roach, architect and founder of Art2Architecture

Submission deadline: 20 June 2025
Winner announcement: 21 July 2025
Prizes: the first prize is €4,000, the second prize is €2,000 and the third prize is €1,000. Two golden mentions will receive €500. Ten honourable mentions will free a coupon for a free competition and 30 finalists will be published on TerraViva channels

Click here to enter ›

Competition overview

TerraViva seeks creative and innovative plans for a restoration project, transforming an abandoned house into a tourism attraction.

Named Customs House and located in Punta Binaca, Italy, the abandoned building aims to welcome thousands of visitors and serve as a contemporary space.

The Sicilian landscape should be considered and preserved throughout the restoration project – this should be reflected in any submissions.

Photo of abandoned house in Punta Bianca, Sicily
TerraViva invites architects, designers and enthusiasts to reimagine an abandoned house in Sicily

Eligibility and judging criteria

The competition is open to all.

The jury will evaluate all the proposals according to the following principles:

  • Originality of the concept
  • Integration with the context
  • Creative interpretation of the programme
  • Sensitive use of materials and textures
  • Effectiveness in the adaptive reuse
  • Graphic representation
  • Projects that express a special sensitivity towards the natural context and quality architectural solutions will be highly appreciated

How to enter

Participants are to submit two A1 panels and a brief text describing the project.

Photo of abandoned house in Punta Bianca, Sicily
The restoration project should consider the Sicilian landscape

Submission deadlines

The submission deadline is 20 June 2025 and the winners will be announced on 21 July 2025.

About TerraViva

TerraViva is a platform dedicated to the organisation of international architecture and design competitions. The organisation connects talented designers around the world with partners and stakeholders looking for high-quality projects to rehabilitate a building, redesign an urban plot, or transform an entire district.

In addition to the organisation's focus on architecture, it also works on graphic design contests, providing the ideal platform for international creatives to showcase their visual communication skills and contribute to innovative projects.

Dezeen Competitions

Dezeen Competitions is an affordable space for organisations and brands to promote their latest competitions to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email [email protected].

Dezeen Competitions is an example of partnership content on Dezeen. Find out more about partnership content here.