Buildner is pleased to reveal the results of its fifth annual Last Nuclear Bomb Memorial competition, an initiative advocating for the universal ban on nuclear weapons. Inspired by the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the competition challenges designers to create a memorial on a decommissioned nuclear test site, using only visual storytelling—without text or annotations—to convey the gravity of nuclear warfare’s impact. This year’s competition was evaluated by a distinguished jury of architects, urbanists, and artists from across the globe.
This year’s competition drew submissions from across the globe, each offering imaginative interpretations of how homes can be brought to life through the interplay of light and shadow. The jury—composed of distinguished professionals including Studio Bark’s Sarah Broadstock, Trahan Architects’ Sandra Baggerman, architectural copywriter Nikita Morell, educator Blake T. Smith, and Sher Maker founders Patcharada Inplang and Thongchai Chansamak—sought out projects that not only embraced the challenge but also elevated natural light into a language of architecture. The winning designs skillfully demonstrated how space, time, and atmosphere can be shaped by thoughtful design decisions, emphasizing the poetic and functional qualities of sunlight and shadow.
This year’s submissions were reviewed by a distinguished jury panel featuring experts from architecture, urbanism, and the arts. Olha Kleytman, founder of Ukraine-based SBM Studio, brings expertise in architecture and urban design, alongside her humanitarian work through the NGO “Through the War.” Flora Lee, Associate Partner at MAD Architects, has contributed to major international projects including the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and UNIC Residential in Paris. Peter Newman, a London-based artist, explores humanity’s relationship with space and modernity, with exhibitions spanning Trafalgar Square, the Hayward Gallery, and the Guggenheim Museum in Venice. Vincent Panhuysen, co-founder of KAAN Architecten, integrates contextual sensitivity into large-scale projects, such as the Netherlands American Cemetery Visitor Center. James Whitaker, founder of Whitaker Studio, is an architect known for his widely published Joshua Tree Residence, the most popular project on Dezeen in 2017. Wu Ziye, co-founder of China’s Mix Architecture, has received international acclaim for his studio’s exploration of spatial consciousness, materiality, and integration with nature.
The 1st Prize is awarded to Alessia Angela Sanchez, Erminia Cirillo, and Adele Maria Saita (Italy) for a powerful memorial that transforms sand and metal into a haunting post-apocalyptic vision of Rome, highlighting the paradox of destruction and preservation.
The 2nd Prize goes to Chen Yang, Ruijing Sun, and Chao Li (USA) for a poetic landscape intervention featuring a mist-generating circular water installation that symbolizes both the devastating force of an explosion and the hope embodied by a rainbow.
The 3rd Prize and Student Award are awarded to Marco Moreno Donohoe (USA, Washington University in St. Louis) for a memorial set within a cratered landscape, where a linear structure serves as both a bridge and a viewing platform, offering visitors a visceral experience of destruction and reflection.
Buildner extends its sincere gratitude to all participants for their thought-provoking contributions and congratulates the winners on their exceptional designs. Visit our website to explore the winning and shortlisted projects.
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1st Place
Urbs Aeterna
Alessia Angela Sanchez, Erminia Cirillo, Adele Maria Saita
Italy
“We participate in architecture competitions to exercise our creativity and express our freedom. After graduation, entering a firm often means conforming to established practices, making it harder to think outside the box. Competitions, on the other hand, allow us to experiment, take risks, and question conventional approaches. Beyond personal growth, these challenges connect us to the international architecture community, fostering discussions on pressing global issues and becoming a tool for dialogue and reflection.”
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JURY FEEDBACK summary
The project presents a memorial using sand and metal to depict a post-apocalyptic vision of what appears to be Rome reduced to an archaeological remnant. The design evokes the destruction and preservation paradox, allowing viewers to observe the site from above or navigate its fractured streets leading to a central void. A ghostly wireframe reconstruction of a vanished temple stands as the focal point, symbolizing loss and memory.
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2nd Place
The Rainbow Of Renewal
Chen Yang, Ruijing Sun, Chao Li
United States
“We join architecture competitions to challenge ourselves, explore innovation, and push design boundaries. Architecture competitions offer creative freedom to experiment beyond constraints. The Last Nuclear Bomb Memorial especially allows us to communicate ideas purely through imagery, where representation and concept take precedence over text explanation, making the visual narrative and the concept important.”
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JURY FEEDBACK summary
The project envisions a memorial for the last nuclear bomb through a landscape intervention that transforms destruction into renewal. A circular water installation generates mist, evoking the image of an explosion while simultaneously creating rainbows, symbolizing hope. The design’s ephemeral quality enhances its poetic impact, making it a striking presence on the horizon. The intervention integrates with the natural environment, fostering an evolving atmospheric experience.
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3rd Place + Buildner Student Award
Projected Destruction
Marco Moreno Donohoe
United States
“This is the first architectural competition I have participated in! I was interested by the key feature that you cannot submit text with your project for this competition. I am particularly interested in art and architecture involving earthwork installations, and this seemed right up my alley.”
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JURY FEEDBACK summary
This project envisions a memorial set within a cratered landscape. A striking linear structure cuts through the void, acting as both a bridge and a viewing platform, inviting visitors to experience the vastness of destruction. The interplay of light and shadow within the perforated walls creates dynamic spatial effects, offering different perspectives from above and within. The scale and placement evoke a sense of isolation and reflection.
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HONORABLE MENTION
Absence
Jonghwi Back
South Korea
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HONORABLE MENTION
Möbius Elegy: Red Warning and Green Return
Daii Shimada, Mai Nakano, Midori Watanabe
Japan
“In architectural competitions, we are challenged to explore themes that we do not typically consider in our daily work. This presents a valuable opportunity to reflect on societal movements and the role of architecture, adding depth to our usual design proposals.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
Soft Fallout
Louis Bourdages, Cedric Harvey
Canada
“This competition stood out to us because of its unique challenge. From the start, we had a clear vision: creating a paradoxical experience that combines inflatable architecture with a bold, radiant presence—both inviting and confrontational. The technical complexity made it even more exciting, as it required us to rethink conventional modeling methods. More than anything, we saw this as an opportunity to experiment, take risks, and contribute something fresh to the architectural dialogue.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
The Scar
Seo Eunseo, Gahee Heo, Junghyun Kim
South Korea
“Through this competition, I sought to express this duality architecturally, ensuring that visitors experience space in a way that evokes memory, reflection, and hope. Architecture can serve as a bridge between the past and the present. Through this competition, I wanted to go beyond simply remembering past tragedies and instead encourage reflection on the kind of future we should build. In this sense, I believed that the Nuclear Bomb Memorial should not be just a space for mourning but one that carries a message for the future—an idea that became the foundation of my design proposal.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
Used to be there
Hữu Nhân Hoàng, Hoàng Kỳ Lê, Anh Khoa Huỳnh
Vietnam
“We participate in architecture competitions because we are eager to explore the opportunities available to us outside of Vietnam. These competitions provide a platform to showcase our skills and creativity on a global stage, helping us understand where we stand in the international architectural community. Additionally, with a bit of free time on our hands, we see these competitions as a productive way to challenge ourselves, gain new experiences, and grow professionally.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
The Void
Alfred Josua Dann, Lasse Frech
Germany
“We saw this competition as an opportunity to collaborate on a project outside of a university or work context. It allowed us to explore ideas freely and develop our skills beyond the constraints of formal education and professional practice. Competitions provide a space for experimentation, learning, and self-improvement while challenging us to think critically and push our creative boundaries.”
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SHORTLISTED PROJECTS
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