Karlovo Living Landscape
Dezeen Competitions: TerraViva's latest competition calls for proposals for a new low-rise neighbourhood in the Slovakian city of Banská Bystrica.
It is open to architects, urban designers and landscape designers who are capable of creating schemes that "redefine the relationship between housing, landscape and community life".
This competition is now closed
Organiser: TerraViva
Competition: Karlovo Living Landscape - A Sustainable Residential Quarter
Judges:
- Katarína Michalková, co-founder of BMX Studio
- Juan Lucas Young, director and partner at Sauerbruch Hutton
- Martin Pavelek, disciplinary committee with the Slovak Chamber of Architects
- Jan van Dijk, founder of van Dijk Architects
- Maria Lucrezia De Marco, head of communications at Stefano Boeri Architetti
- Harrison Stallan, architect at OMA
- Maria Virginia Theilig, architect and PhD at Universidad Nacional de Rosario
- Chao Li, senior designer at Snøhetta
Registration deadline: 20 February 2026
Winner announcement: 27 April 2026
Prizes: the first prize will be €10,000. Four finalists will receive €3,000 each. There will also be ten golden mentions, who will receive a coupon for a free TerraViva membership
Competition overview
Set on the hillside of Banská Bystrica in Slovakia, the competition calls on architects and urban designers to envision a new residential district that redefines the relationship between housing, landscape and community life.
The contest seeks creative proposals for a compact, low-rise neighbourhood that celebrates liveability, sustainability and human scale.
Participants are asked to transform the plot into a model of 21st-century living, balancing density with open space, ecology with comfort and individuality with collective identity.
The project should integrate pedestrian pathways, gardens and small plazas into a cohesive urban fabric where everyday life flows naturally between buildings and nature.
The guiding principles are simplicity and liveability: bold, enduring architecture bathed in sunlight and open to views, with generous outdoor spaces that foster social life.
Eligibility and judging criteria
The competition is open to architects, designers, students, urbanists, engineers, artists, enthusiasts and anyone interested in the fields of design and architecture.
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
- Structural and spatial innovation
- Climate resilience strategies
- Graphic representation
Projects that express sensitivity towards heritage preservation and quality architectural solutions will be appreciated.
How to enter
Entering the competition incurs one of the following fees: €89 (early), €109 (standard) or €139 (late).
Participants are required to submit three A1 panels and a brief text describing the project.
Submission deadlines
Early registrations are open until 9 January 2026, while late registrations are up until 20 February.
The first phase's submission deadline is 20 February, and finalists for this stage will be announced on 13 March.
For phase two, the submission deadline is 10 April, and winners will be announced on 27 April.
About TerraViva
TerraViva is a leading platform dedicated to the organisation of international architecture and design competitions.
We connect the most talented designers around the world with partners and stakeholders looking for high-quality projects to rehabilitate a building, redesign an urban plot or even transform an entire district.
In addition to our focus on architecture, we also work on graphic design contests, providing the ideal platform for international creatives to showcase their visual communication skills and contribute to innovative projects.
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