Registration Deadline: Aug 23, 2025; Submission Deadline: Sep 13, 2025
1. Competition Overview:
Magnum Opus Resorts Design Competition is an international call for visionary architects to propose a concept for a 6–8 room luxury boutique hotel located on 8 acres (3.25 hectares) of pristine land on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
This retreat will never be rented by the room. It will be booked as an entire sanctuary: a private oasis for unforgettable group experiences.
Our target client base: Celebrities, executives, industry leaders, tastemakers, and discerning travelers seeking privacy, beauty, and transformative experiences in nature.
The design must inspire awe, win awards, and speak a language of timeless simplicity and brilliance—without excessive cost.
You have a unique to design a property for one of the most spectacular pieces of land in the world.
Our goal? We believe that this property, positioned with the right design/architect will be featured on the cover of magazines internationally.
Please watch the video link https://vimeo.com/1102382095
Contour Lines – DWG file here… https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi…
Contour Lines – PDF file here… https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi…
Extraordinary applicants only. We don’t do ordinary.
2. Eligibility:
This competition is open to all architects, designers, and firms from any country. Both individuals and teams may enter. There are NO restrictions on nationality, age, or professional affiliation. There is NO fee to apply to this competition.
We honor brilliance. If you have great vision, are smart, hardworking, and striving for excellence please apply.
3. Competition Format
The competition will be conducted in three stages:
Stage 1: Registration – Saturday, August 23, 2025, 10:00 PM ET
Anybody can register. There is NO fee to enter the competition. We are looking for smart, hard-working creative brilliance. Registration information shall include:
· Individual, corporate or team name
· Contact information (email, phone, mailing address)
· Link to portfolio
Please send registration information to max@cineo.com
Stage 2: Concept Submission – Saturday, September 13, 2025, 10:00 PM ET
This is a one-of-a-kind property on the west coast of Costa Rica. The views are 360 degrees (West looking towards the sunset, North and South views of the pristine coast of Costa Rica, and East to a spectacular rain forest jungle). This international search for a brilliant design to capture the magic of this incredible property is open to any individual or team. Concept submission shall include the following by Saturday, September 13, 2025:
· Concept sketches / massing diagrams
· Narrative description of the design intent
· Images, collages, or mood board
· And any other information that you deem appropriate to showcase your special skills and unique ability to design for this phenomenal property.
Entries will be judged based on the following:
· Architectural originality and vision
· Integration with the natural surroundings
· Conceptual clarity and design language
· Cost-awareness and construction feasibility
· Alignment with project goals and user experience
Note: Structure shall note exceed 15 meters (45 feet) in height.
SHOULD YOU DESIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR YOUR DESIGN EFFORT, PLEASE CONTACT MAX@CINEO.COM
All information for competition submission shall be sent to max@cineo.com
Stage 3: Design Review Announcement – Monday, September 15th, 2025, 12:00 Noon ET.
Following review of concept designs and interviews, one architect or team will receive $2,000 USD and be awarded the opportunity for design commission subject to mutual agreement by both parties for a professional services contract.
The awardee shall be notified by email and/or phone and must be available within 10 days following the announcement (by September 25, 2025) for an interview, and to discuss to next steps.
4. Deliverables and Deadlines
All deliverables must be submitted electronically by email (to max@cineo.com) based on the specified deadlines outlined herein.
5. Confidentiality
All submissions will be treated confidentially during the selection process. Participants agree not to publicly disclose their submission prior to the official winner announcement without written permission from the Client.
6. Judging Criteria
Entries will be judged based on the following:
· Architectural originality and vision
· Integration with the natural surroundings
· Conceptual clarity and design language
· Cost-awareness and construction feasibility
· Alignment with project goals and user experience
The Client reserves the right to consult external experts, remain sole decision-maker, and not award any winner if submissions are deemed unsatisfactory.
7. Legal and Miscellaneous
By submitting to this competition, participants acknowledge and accept these Terms & Conditions: 1) the Client reserves the right to update or modify these terms at any time, provided all participants are notified in writing, and 2) this competition does not constitute a legal offer of employment or a binding design contract, and 3) any final design work to be subject to mutually agreed professional services contract, and 4) applicants agrees that all designs, drawings, models, and related materials submitted for this project shall be considered a ‘work made for hire’ to the extent permissible by law. To the extent such works are not considered ‘works made for hire,’ Applicants hereby assign to Client all right, title, and interest in and to the work product and associated intellectual property, including copyright. All materials submitted by applicants in the competition will become the property of the organizing body and will be archived without being returned. Participants are expected to uphold the highest standards of professional ethics and ensure that their submissions are original and do not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others. Any submission found to include plagiarized or copied content will result in disqualification.