Dezeen Competitions: the third edition of Buildner's Re:Form – New Life for Old Spaces competition focuses on adaptive reuse proposals for 250-square-metre spaces.

Whether in-use or currently abandoned, entrants are tasked with selecting a building of their choice to build their proposal around.

Organiser: Buildner
Competition: Re:Form - New Life for Old Spaces 
Judges: yet to be announced
Registration deadlines: 2 July
Winner announcement: 17 November
Prize fund: €10,000

Click here to enter ›

Competition overview

Buildner announces the third edition of Re:Form – New Life for Old Spaces, an international architecture competition focused on adaptive reuse within spaces under 250 square meters.

Building on the success of the previous editions, this year’s competition invites architects and designers to creatively reimagine existing structures – abandoned, underutilised, or currently in use – into spaces with renewed purpose and impact.

In light of ongoing environmental and urban challenges, Re:Form continues to encourage sustainable and innovative design approaches that transform small-scale spaces into meaningful, functional environments.

The competition celebrates the potential of adaptive reuse to harmonise sustainability, utility and design excellence.

Winning proposals will highlight how thoughtful transformation of existing spaces can strengthen communities and contribute to a more sustainable built environment.

Eligibility and judging criteria

This competition is open to all.

This edition celebrates the ingenuity needed to balance sustainability, functionality and design within an existing space.

How can we rethink these structures to serve new purposes, meet contemporary needs, and positively impact their communities?

Participants may select any structure, in any location, to reinterpret for a new use.

Re:Form is a call to bring fresh perspectives to old spaces, proving that thoughtful adaptation can be a powerful tool for a more sustainable future.

Buildner is committed to selecting the most qualified industry professionals to comprise its jury panels. The jury panel has not yet been published.

These panels include architects and experts from related fields to ensure fair and objective evaluation of all entries.

How to enter

Designers can get information on entry requirements here.

Submission deadlines

Early bird registration is from 25 February to 22 April 2026.

Advance registration is from 23 April to 2 July, and last-minute registration is from 3 July to 10 September. The final registration deadline is 10 September. Closing date for submission is 12 October.

Winners will be announced on 17 November.

About Buildner

Buildner publishes international architecture competitions, providing a platform for designers and architects to showcase their work and shape the future of the built environment.

For over ten years, the platform has published more than 140 competitions and had over 400 guest jury members.

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