Winners of Saint-Gobain's 2026 International Architecture Student Competition Announced

The 2026 International Architecture Student Competition, organized by Saint-Gobain for the 21st time this year, took place in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, with participation from over 200 universities from 34 countries. In the competition highlighting sustainable architectural solutions, teams from South Africa, Portugal, France and China were recognized with awards, while Turkey was represented by students from Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University.

At the competition held in Belgrade at a former cement factory on the banks of the Sava River, participants were asked to transform an industrial waterfront area hosting the Belgrade Academic Yacht Club into a year-round sustainable sports and recreation center. Projects were evaluated on criteria including accommodation areas for athletes, public use spaces and green living areas, as well as circular design, reduction of embodied carbon, energy efficiency and low environmental impact building solutions.

Sustainable transformation of industrial heritage sites
The competition, realized through collaboration of the World Green Building Council, One Click LCA, Belgrade Municipality and Serbia Green Building Council, focused on repurposing industrial heritage sites and integrating them into urban life. Students demonstrated architecture's transformative power through projects that brought together environmental sustainability and social benefit.

South Africa takes first place
In the international final, the South African team's "Ceding the Sava" project won the first-place award. Portugal's "COEXISTENCE" project placed second, France's "The Bird's Nest" project third, while China's "Meandering Confluence" project received the Student Special Award.

Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University represented Turkey
Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University students Nurcan Açıcada, Oğul Can Aydın and Eda Nur Çolak, under the guidance of their advisor Ekrem Bahadır Çalışkan, submitted their sustainable design projects to the international jury on behalf of Turkey and gained valuable experience.

Supporting future architects with 360 years of innovation heritage
Since 2004, the Saint-Gobain International Architecture Student Competition brings together architecture students from different countries around the world with a focus on sustainable development. In the Turkey stage of the competition, which is open to undergraduate and graduate students, existing building restoration and new building design projects are evaluated according to criteria of innovation, sustainability and feasibility.

Saint-Gobain, with 360 years of innovation heritage, continues to contribute to the development of future architects and encourage the design of more livable cities through its approach supporting sustainable building solutions.