21st Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest Winners Announced
The 21st annual Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest recently concluded, showcasing innovative solutions for transforming an industrial waterfront in Belgrade, Serbia, into a vibrant sports and recreation hub. This prestigious international competition drew participants from over 200 universities across 34 nations, all tasked with reimagining a former cement factory site along the picturesque Sava River. The challenge emphasized sustainable design principles, focusing on renovation, new construction, and comprehensive urban strategies to create a year-round public destination while prioritizing circularity, energy efficiency, and minimal environmental impact.
Global Talent Shines: Highlights from the 21st Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest in Belgrade
On June 30, 2026, the results of the 21st Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest were unveiled, celebrating exceptional architectural innovation and sustainable design. This year's competition centered on a transformative project in Belgrade, Serbia, where students were tasked with converting a defunct cement factory site along the Sava River into a dynamic Sports and Recreation Hub. Organized in collaboration with the World Green Building Council, OneClick LCA, the City of Belgrade, and other key partners, the contest attracted a diverse pool of talent from over 200 universities spanning 34 countries. Participants were challenged to integrate renovation of the Academic Yachting Club Belgrade, design new athlete accommodations, and create a comprehensive network of public spaces and green areas, all while adhering to strict criteria for circularity, embodied carbon, and low-impact construction.
The distinguished international jury, comprising notable figures such as Nebojša ANTEŠEVIĆ, Architectural Curator from the Museum of Applied Arts, Belgrade; Bojana ZEKOVIĆ, President of the Green Building Council Serbia; and Pascal EVEILLARD, Director of Sustainable Construction at Saint-Gobain, evaluated submissions based on their contextual understanding, technical clarity, and innovative approaches to sustainability. The winning projects demonstrated a profound grasp of environmental performance and the social impact of design.
The top honor, the 1st Prize, was awarded to the South African team for their project, “Ceding the Sava.” The jury lauded this proposal for its strong contextual understanding, effective architectural response to environmental and social conditions, and its clear, open landscape strategy. The design cohesively integrated various functions within a compact, layered structure, maximizing both functional efficiency and environmental performance through innovative, technically sound solutions.
Portugal's “COEXISTENCE” secured the 2nd Prize, celebrated for achieving a harmonious balance between architecture, landscape, sustainability, and social utility. The project's concept of 'coexistence' was consistently applied across masterplan and architectural scales, envisioning buildings, public spaces, and ecological systems as a unified framework where sustainability was both visibly and functionally embedded.
France's “The bird's nest” earned the 3rd Prize, recognized for its striking architectural identity and compelling narrative. The biomimetic 'nest' concept provided a unified architectural language and an engaging spatial experience, enriched by strong indoor-outdoor connections. The project effectively integrated passive and material sustainability strategies, showcasing an ambitious and well-executed design.
The Student Prize went to China's “Meandering Confluence,” which impressed the jury with its sophisticated integration of water systems, landscape, and built form. This project positioned architecture as an integral part of a continuous ecological system, demonstrating remarkable methodological maturity and a strong balance between poetic expression and spatial clarity. The additional feature of a birdwatching annex further enhanced its functional and narrative coherence.
Finally, the Teacher Prize was awarded to “The Sava Thread” from Morocco. This project was praised for its solid understanding of the local context, successfully weaving site conditions and cultural references into a clear, site-specific response. The 'thread' concept provided a logical narrative connecting various spaces and functions, emphasizing landscape continuity, accessibility, and shared spaces to enhance social and urban quality.
The Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest continues to serve as a vital international platform, offering architecture, design, and civil engineering students invaluable real-world experience and promoting sustainable practices in modern construction. The competition operates in two stages: a national stage organized with local universities, followed by an international stage where national winners present to a global jury. This structure ensures a robust and rigorous evaluation process, fostering the next generation of environmentally conscious and socially responsible architects.
The 21st Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest demonstrates the profound impact that thoughtful, sustainable design can have on urban regeneration and community well-being. The winning projects not only offer innovative solutions for revitalizing industrial spaces but also highlight the critical importance of integrating ecological awareness and social responsibility into architectural practice. These student visions underscore a promising future where architecture actively contributes to healthier, more vibrant communities and a more sustainable planet.