Awards Brief

At ArchDaily, we believe that the future of architecture is being shaped today in classrooms, studios, and workshops around the world. Guided by our mission to empower architects and designers with transformative tools, knowledge, and inspiration, we celebrate those who expand the definition of architecture, foster interdisciplinarity, and engage with the urgent challenges of our time.

The Student Project Awards is an initiative dedicated to recognizing the creativity and vision of students who are redefining architectural discourse. With its own identity and a jury-based evaluation, the award is exclusively accessible to all ArchDaily Campus subscribers, ensuring a space designed to spotlight emerging voices and ideas.

For the 2027 edition, developed in partnership with Dropcity, the Awards invite students to translate an urban question into a tangible architectural proposition. Beyond international recognition, this edition offers a rare opportunity to bring those ideas into physical form: developing and building prototypes at Dropcity in Milan, and presenting them live to an international audience during one of the most significant moments in the global design agenda.

What can architecture enable in the city?

Cities are continuously shaped and reshaped by the spaces we build, the ways we inhabit them, and the changing needs of those who live there. Streets, parks, and the spaces we share influence how we move, gather, work, play, and live together.

Today, these spaces are being transformed by increasingly urgent social, environmental, and spatial challenges, from climate change and resource scarcity to rapid urbanization and shifting ways of living. Architecture has the capacity to respond to these conditions—not always through large-scale interventions, but through precise, experimental propositions that test ideas at a tangible scale.

For the second edition of the ArchDaily Student Project Award, we invite students around the world to look closely at their own urban environments and ask: What can architecture enable in the city?

Students are invited to identify a condition, need, or opportunity within their own urban context and address it through a spatial intervention, structure, system, or architectural device.

Proposals can engage with any aspect of urban life, from social and environmental conditions to infrastructure, ecology, mobility, resources, and the ways we use and experience shared spaces. They may explore questions of form, material, structure, construction, and use, but should begin with a specific urban reality and consider what architecture can enable within it.

The intervention can take many forms and operate at different scales. It may be fixed or mobile, singular or replicable, infrastructural or playful, ecological or social. Its scale may be modest, but its ambition can extend beyond its immediate context.

What matters is the capacity to translate an urban question into a tangible architectural proposition: one that can be tested, adapted, and explored through making.

The three winning proposals will have the opportunity to be partially realized at Dropcity, Milan’s new centre for architecture and design. Located within the Magazzini Raccordati behind Milan Central Station, Dropcity brings together fabrication workshops, prototyping laboratories, and exhibition spaces.

One representative from each winning team will travel to Milan to develop and build a prototype—a component or scaled element drawn from their proposal—with the support of Dropcity’s team over three to four days.

The process is inherently experimental. It embraces uncertainty, invites iteration, and treats making as a way of thinking: a process through which ideas can be tested, questioned, refined, and given physical form.

The resulting prototypes will be presented publicly during Milan Design Week, accompanied by a lecture and an open conversation.

This edition builds on ArchDaily’s ongoing exploration of agency: architecture’s capacity to act upon social, environmental, cultural, material, and spatial conditions.

Through Making the City, we invite students to move between the scale of the city and the scale of making: to identify a condition within their own urban reality, imagine what architecture could enable, and translate that idea into something that can be tested.

Calendar

Required Deliverables

Participants must upload the following materials in order to participate in the Student Project Awards:

• A project title (15 - 50 characters)
• A brief abstract of the project (500 - 1,500 characters)
  • A short description of your project in a clear and concise manner, outlining the story and intentions behind it.
  • Make sure you address the Awards brief and keep in mind the evaluation criteria.
• Up to 10-15 images of the project. These should include plans, sections and drawings; models, 3D views or renderings; anything important to visualize and understand the project.
  • Images must be jpg or png files.
  • Maximum 10mb each.
  • Maximum dimensions 6000x6000px.
  • Images submitted with overlaid text, credits or author names are not permitted and will lead to disqualification.
  • Panels are not permitted and will lead to disqualification.
  • All images will be automatically credited to the author of the project.

Evaluation Criteria

Projects will be assessed by an esteemed jury according to the following:

• Relevance to the Award Theme – How directly and meaningfully the project addresses the proposed challenge.
• Critical Approach – The capacity to engage with the theme and the wider world through reflective, questioning, and forward-looking perspectives.
• Presentation and Communication – The clarity, creativity, and effectiveness of the visual and narrative representation.

In addition, projects will be evaluated on how well they embody the values defined in The ArchDaily Guide to Good Architecture:

• Considerate – Respectful of users, communities, and environments.
• Durable – Built to last in material, function, and relevance.
• Holistic – Integrating multiple dimensions of design and impact.
• Inclusive – Accessible and attentive to diversity.
• Innovative – Offering fresh ideas, approaches, or solutions.
• Local – Grounded in context, culture, and place.
• Protective – Safeguarding people, ecosystems, and heritage.
• Resourceful – Making intelligent and responsible use of materials and systems.
• Useful – Responding effectively to needs and purposes.
• Desirable – Creating meaningful, engaging, and inspiring experiences.

Terms and Conditions

Submission Terms & Conditions — to be confirmed on submission

These terms (the “Terms”) govern your participation in the ArchDaily Student Project Awards 2027 (the “Awards”), organised by DAAily platforms AG, operator of ArchDaily (“ArchDaily”, “we” or “us”). By submitting a project you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to these Terms, and that you meet the eligibility criteria below. If you do not agree, please do not submit.

1. Eligibility

   You confirm that, at the time of submission, you are:

   • a student currently enrolled in Years 1 to 6 of a higher-education programme (including Master’s-degree students); and
   • the holder of an active ArchDaily Campus subscription; and
   • studying in an eligible field: architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, interior design, or product design.
   
   

   Doctoral (PhD) candidates and post-doctoral researchers are not eligible. You confirm you meet these criteria and will notify us promptly if you cease to be eligible before the results are announced.




2. Entry tiers

   Submissions are assessed in three tiers based on your year of study at the time of submission:

   • Tier 1 — Years 1–2 (Early Undergraduate)
   • Tier 2 — Years 3–4 (Advanced Undergraduate / Mid-degree)
   • Tier 3 — Years 5–6 (Master’s / Final-stage degree)
   
   

   You must enter the tier that corresponds to your current year of study. Submitting to the wrong tier may result in reclassification or disqualification.




3. How to submit

   • Projects must be submitted exclusively through the official online submission form; no other channel is accepted.
   • All submission materials must be in English.
   • You may submit one project only.
   • Projects must be submitted by the official submission deadline published in the Awards brief; projects submitted after it will not be considered.
   • Once submitted, no modifications or updates are permitted.
   • Dates are indicative only. All dates, deadlines and timings referred to in the Awards brief and in these Terms are indicative and may be changed, postponed or cancelled by ArchDaily at any time and at any stage, without liability for any resulting loss or cost.



4. Submission materials

   Your submission must include the following:

   • a project title (15–50 characters);
   • a project abstract (500–1,500 characters) describing the story and intentions of the project and addressing the Awards theme;
   • 10–15 images (JPG or PNG, maximum 10 MB and 6000×6000 px each).
   
   

   Single images only — panels are not accepted, and images must not contain overlaid text, credits or author names. All images are automatically credited to the project author. We may curate the submitted images and make the final selection that appears on the site.




5. Collaborative projects

   Team projects are accepted but must be submitted by one individual, under their own account. If the same project is submitted by more than one team member, only the first received (chronologically) will be considered. Each participant may be part of one submission only.




6. Originality, authorship and use of AI

   You confirm that you hold full copyright and ownership of the submitted work. Any plagiarism or disputed authorship will result in immediate disqualification. Projects already published on ArchDaily are not eligible. You may submit work developed within coursework or created specifically for the Awards.

   AI-created projects are not permitted. AI may be used to support the creation of visuals, but the overall design concept, written description and execution must be fully created by the author(s).

   At ArchDaily, AI is a supporting tool within architectural practice — never an author, decision-maker or substitute for human expertise. This reflects ArchDaily’s identity as an architect-led, human-made, research-driven and critically curated platform. AI is understood as part of architecture’s evolving toolkit: it can assist, accelerate and enhance processes, from research to representation. It does not replace critical thinking, editorial judgment or authorship. Architecture remains a cultural, social and contextual discipline that requires interpretation and accountability, and your submission must reflect this.




7. Intellectual property and licence

   You retain full ownership of your project. By submitting, you grant ArchDaily a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to publish, reproduce, display and promote the project and submitted materials across its platforms, social-media channels and newsletters, now and in the future. Approved projects are published without editorial modification, aside from minimal text editing, formatting adjustments for consistency, and curation of the images.

   You confirm the work is your own, does not infringe any third-party rights, and that you have obtained any permissions required (including from any people depicted).




8. Evaluation, jury and results

   • All submissions are first reviewed by ArchDaily for eligibility and compliance before being passed to the jury.
   • Winners and honorable mentions are selected by an independent external jury; a jury member with a potential conflict of interest will abstain from the relevant project.
   • The jury selects three winning projects and may designate honorable mentions at its discretion. A public-vote winner may also be selected by ArchDaily’s Instagram audience.
   • Projects remain confidential during evaluation and are not shared with third parties until officially published.
   • Jury decisions are final and not subject to appeal. Due to the volume of entries, individual feedback cannot be provided.
   • Results are announced per the published calendar; participants advancing at each stage are notified by email.



9. Prizes

   Each of the three winning projects receives a cash prize of USD 1,500, awarded to the project as a whole. For collaborative projects the cash prize is paid to the submitting author, who serves as the team’s official representative; ArchDaily is not responsible for how the prize is shared among team members.

   In addition, each winning team receives round-trip travel to and from Milan for one representative, to build a prototype of the winning project in Dropcity’s workshops. The projects will be unveiled by the winners at a launch event and talk during Milan Design Week with Dropcity and ArchDaily. The prototype build, exhibition and ownership are set out below.




10. Prototype build, exhibition and ownership

    You own your physical prototype, and may collect it once the exhibition has finished. The intellectual property rights in the design remain yours at all times. Until collection, the prototype is built, held and handled as set out below.

    For each winning project a prototype is produced during a dedicated Build Week and exhibited during Milan Design Week, on the following terms.

    • Build. Prototypes are built in Dropcity’s workshops (tunnels 58 and 60) during a dedicated Build Week. Dropcity provides the workshop, the machinery (which may be operated only by, or under the supervision of, a Dropcity technician), a safety induction and protective equipment. You must complete the induction and follow all safety instructions at all times.
    • Build costs. Dropcity funds the build materials up to €3,000 per project, purchased and paid directly by Dropcity, together with the related consumables and hardware. Any costs beyond this are not covered and are the team’s responsibility unless otherwise agreed in writing.
    • Exhibition. Prototypes are exhibited in the Laboratory at Dropcity for the duration of Milan Design Week, with one shared wall panel for the three projects and an individual label for each. Dropcity stores and handles the prototypes with reasonable care during the exhibition.
    • Dismantling. Dropcity dismantles the prototypes at its own cost at the end of the exhibition.
    • Collection. Winning teams may collect their prototype within 14 days after Milan Design Week ends, at their own cost; ArchDaily’s only obligation is to notify the collection deadline. If a prototype is not collected, then following written notice to ArchDaily and the team, Dropcity may retain it for its Archive or dispose of it, without liability.



11. Prize conditions, travel, insurance and liability

    The travel and experience are subject to the nominated representative holding valid travel documents and any required visas and meeting all travel requirements; ArchDaily is not responsible for visa refusals, travel disruption, or personal costs beyond those it expressly provides.

    Insurance is your responsibility. Each nominated representative must arrange and maintain, at their own cost, adequate insurance for the trip, the Build Week and the exhibition — including health and medical, travel and cancellation, accident, and personal liability cover. ArchDaily does not provide insurance and accepts no responsibility for the absence of adequate cover.

    Attendance at the Build Week, the exhibition and any related event, and all travel to and from them, is at your own risk. To the maximum extent permitted by law, ArchDaily is not liable for any injury, illness, death, loss, damage, delay or cost arising from travel to or attendance at any event, from the Build Week or the use of any workshop, tools or machinery, or from the exhibition.

    The prototype and exhibition depend on third parties (including Dropcity) and on venue and event availability. If, for reasons beyond our reasonable control — including a third party such as Dropcity not delivering, force majeure, or cancellation or rescheduling of the event — the travel, prototype or exhibition cannot proceed in whole or in part, ArchDaily may modify, substitute or withdraw that element without liability, and the USD 1,500 cash prize remains unaffected.

    Prizes are non-transferable and, except for the stated cash prize, not exchangeable for cash; there is no cash alternative to the travel or experience.




12. Prize payment

    The cash prize is paid in USD by bank transfer to the account the winner nominates. The winner must provide accurate payment details, including the full legal name and address of the account owner and the required account / IBAN / SWIFT information. Any currency conversion and all bank, intermediary and receiving-side fees are borne by the recipient and may reduce the amount received. The winner is responsible for any taxes due on the prize. We may withhold payment pending identity or tax verification, or where a project is later disqualified.




13. Subscription and refunds

    An ArchDaily Campus subscription is required to submit. By purchasing it you gain access to its benefits, including the option to submit to the Awards; no refund is issued if you choose not to submit an entry. Questions on subscriptions: subscription@daaily.com.




14. Data protection

    ArchDaily processes your personal data to administer the Awards — verifying eligibility, running the evaluation, publishing author credits, and paying prizes — in accordance with applicable data-protection law (including, where relevant, the Swiss FADP and the GDPR) and its privacy notice.




15. Publicity

    You consent to ArchDaily publishing your name, author credit, university affiliation and the submitted project across its platforms, social media and newsletters, and to announcing longlist, shortlist and winners. Winners additionally consent to the use of their name, likeness and project in winner announcements and related coverage.




16. Disqualification and changes

    We may disqualify any entry that breaches these Terms, is ineligible, or involves plagiarism, fraud or abuse. We may update these Terms or adjust the Awards (including the calendar, theme, format or prizes), and may suspend or cancel the Awards, on reasonable notice where practicable.




17. Governing law

    These Terms are governed by the laws of Switzerland, and the courts of Zurich, Switzerland have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising from them.