UNU- FLORES 58d ago

The United Nations University Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) is pleased to announce the winners of the House of No Waste (HØW) international ideas competition, a global initiative calling for transformative concepts that rethink public architecture through the principles of circularity, sustainability, and the Resource Nexus. Launched as part of the United Nations University’s 50th anniversary, the competition received an overwhelming global response, with 927 applications from 1,005 authors across 112 countries and regions. Submissions included building concepts, urban planning strategies, material or building systems, construction technologies, as well as products related to the built environment. The diversity and quality of proposals reflect a growing global commitment to reimagining the built environment in the face of the climate and resource crises. The winning projects were selected by an international jury of leading experts in architecture, engineering, and sustainability. The jury awarded three main award prizes and four acknowledgement prizes, recognising exceptional projects that embody environmental responsibility, circular economy principles, and community engagement. The winners were officially announced during an online award ceremony on Monday, 20 April 2026, in conjunction with the Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), where UNU-FLORES will also launch an online exhibition showcasing the awarded projects alongside other inspiring submissions.