The Bamboo Housing Challenge
Dezeen Competitions: The Bamboo Housing Challenge tasks entrants to design and propose a house made primarily from bamboo.
The winning design will be realised as a built structure in Bali, Indonesia, which will house a local resident.
This competition is now closed
Organiser: Bamboo U
Competition: The Bamboo Housing Challenge
Judges:
- Anna Heringer, Austrian architect
- Simón Vélez, Colombian architect
- Luis Felipe Lopez, engineer and general manager at Base Bahay Foundation
- Elora Hardy, founder and creative director of IBUKU
- Orin Hardy, director and co-founder at Bamboo U
- Luis Echeverría, architect and general manager at Bamboo U
Submission deadlines: the registration deadline is on 15 March 2026, and the submission deadline is on 17 April 2026
Winner announcement: the winner will be announced on 15 May 2026, and the full-scale build in Bali will take place from 23 October to 3 November 2026
Prizes: the main prize is the winner's package, which includes a flight to Bali, Indonesia (for one team representative), accommodation in Bali during the build phase, and free participation in the 11-day build and design course where the winning design will be constructed at full scale (23 October to 3 November 2026). Up to two additional team members can join the build course for free (travel costs covered by the team). Other benefits for all entrants include free access to Bamboo U's online bamboo design content after registration, as well as recognition and exposure through Bamboo U's platform and partner networks
Competition overview
The Bamboo Housing Challenge is a global design competition inviting architects, designers, engineers, students and creative thinkers worldwide to reimagine affordable, sustainable housing using bamboo.
Participants are asked to design a prototype a home that costs no more than $10,000 USD to build and fits within a space of 80 square metres.
It's not just an idea contest – the goal is to create a design that can be built and lived in by a real resident in Bali, Indonesia.
The winning design will be constructed at full scale during Bamboo U's immersive 11-day build and design course in Bali in October 2026, bridging design and real construction.
The winner gets flights, accommodation, and free course participation for one team representative, and up to two additional members can join for free (but must cover travel).
All participants receive free access to Bamboo U's online bamboo design course content to help develop strong concepts.
The challenge aims to produce environmentally responsible, affordable, and culturally appropriate housing solutions using bamboo, with real impact beyond the contest.
Eligibility and judging criteria
The Bamboo Housing Challenge by Bamboo U is open to architects, designers, engineers, urban planners, and creative thinkers worldwide.
This includes students (18 years and older), individuals or teams of one to three people, and participants with no prior bamboo experience.
Each individual or team may submit only one proposal, and team members cannot join multiple teams.
The Bamboo Housing Challenge by Bamboo U seeks proposals that are not only beautiful, but buildable, affordable and impactful.
The jury will evaluate entries based on:
- Affordability and feasibility
- Innovation in Bamboo
- Environmental performance
- Liveability and human-centred design
- Clarity of presentation
How to enter
Register online via the official competition page.
Participants must complete registration before 15 March 2026 and pay the entry fee (standard and student rates available). After registering, entrants receive the full brief, site information and submission guidelines.
Entrants must submit:
- One digital presentation board (poster format)
- Architectural drawings (plans, sections, elevations)
- Visualisations or diagrams
- A short written concept description
- Basic cost considerations (max. USD 10,000 build budget)
- Full formatting instructions are provided after registration
Submission deadlines
The registration deadline is on 15 March 2026, and the submission deadline is on 17 April 2026.
The winner will be announced on 15 May 2026, and the full-scale build in Bali will take place from 23 October to 3 November 2026.
About Bamboo U
Bamboo U is a Bali-based education platform focused on sustainable architecture using bamboo.
Bamboo U provides hands-on and online courses for architects, designers, and builders, and organises global design competitions to develop affordable, eco-friendly bamboo housing solutions that can be built in real life.
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