Terraviva launches RUINAS DE QUILMES, a new international architecture competition that invites participants to reimagine the Sacred City of Quilmes (Argentina) as a contemporary Open-Air Museum, through a system of landscape interventions and the design of a new Visitor Centre.
Prizes up to 9.000 $ will be awarded to the winners, selected by an international jury including Agostina Giusto (UNS), Irina Shmeleva (Henning Larsen), Jaime Font (Mesura) and Juan José Vargas Castillo (TAP Arquitectura), among others.
BRIEF
Ruinas de Quilmes invites architects and designers to rethink the experience of the Sacred City through the creation of a contemporary Open-Air Museum. The competition calls for the design of a new Visitor Centre, conceived as the main gateway to the site, alongside a series of small-scale architectural and landscape interventions aimed at improving accessibility and enriching the visitor journey.
The project goes beyond the design of a single building. Participants are asked to develop an integrated strategy that connects architecture, landscape and heritage, transforming the ruins into a coherent and engaging narrative. From pathways and viewpoints to informational devices and resting areas, every element should contribute to enhancing the understanding and perception of this unique cultural landscape.
PRIZES
• 1st Prize: 4.000$
• 2nd Prize: 2.000$
• 3rd Prize: 1.000$
• 5 Golden Mentions: coupon for a free membership
• 10 Honorable Mentions: coupon for a free competition
• 30 Finalists: published on Terraviva channels
GUIDELINES
Special attention should be given to the relationship between new and existing structures, as well as to the sensitive integration of the intervention within the natural and archaeological context. The scale and impact of the proposal remain open, encouraging a wide range of approaches – from discreet and minimal solutions to more expressive and iconic interventions. Ultimately, the competition seeks visionary proposals capable of strengthening the connection between past and present, offering a renewed way to experience one of Argentina’s most significant ancestral sites.
REQUESTED MATERIAL
Two A1 panels (59,4 x 84,1 cm – horizontal) and a brief text describing the proposal (250-500 words).
JURY
Agostina Giusto [Bahía Blanca, Argentina] | UNS
Leonardo Losada [Rosario, Argentina] | LCarq / FAPyD – UNR
Irina Shmeleva [Copenhagen, Denmark] | Henning Larsen
Jaime Font [Barcelona, Spain] | Mesura
Tommaso Michieli [Udine, Italy] | MichieliZanatta
İnci Shoainia [Ankara, Turkey] | Spika Architecture
Yang Fei [Boston, USA] | Field Object Lab
Juan José Vargas Castillo [Medellin, Colombia] | TAP Arquitectura
SCHEDULE
• Competition Opening: April 28th
• 69 € “Early” Registrations: April 28th – July 17th
• 99 € “Standard” Registrations: July 17th – September 18th
• 139 € “Late” Registrations: September 18th – October 16th
• Submission Deadline: October 16th, 2026
• Winners Announcement: November 16th, 2026
DOWNLOAD FULL BRIEF
https://www.terravivacompetitions.com/ruinas-de-quilmes-2026/
REQUIREMENTS & ELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to students, architects, designers, artists, engineers, urban planners, makers and
creatives of all kinds. Participants can compete individually or in teams.
More info at: www.terravivacompetitions.com
Contact: info@terravivacompetitions.com
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