Dresden, Germany – 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.
“HØW demonstrates the power of global crowdsourcing – and of youth – to accelerate the transition towards circular construction,” said Prof. Edeltraud Guenther, Director of UNU-FLORES. “By bringing together diverse perspectives and solutions, it shows how inclusive innovation can drive sustainable building practices at scale – ensuring that no one is left behind in the shift towards a resource-efficient and resilient built environment.”
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.
The online exhibition features all 225 projects that passed the formal review, providing a comprehensive overview of the innovative ideas submitted. Visitors can explore each project in detail and engage with the ideas shaping the future of circular buildings and construction worldwide.
In addition, a physical HØW exhibition will be presented at the Summit of GlobalABC in Lausanne (20–22 April 2026), further amplifying the initiative’s contribution to global dialogues on sustainable construction.
Award prize winners (each project awarded with 8,000 Euros)
Better Save Than Sorry
Janek Brinkschröder, Nils Spellenberg (Germany)
The proposal develops rural reuse hubs for building components, combining economic, logistical, and cultural strategies to encourage participation in sustainable construction practices.
High-Performance Modular Brick Systems from Local Plastics Waste Streams: VALPLAST
Nel-Ange St Cyr, Caleb Jean Louis (Haiti)
The Modular Brick System “VALPLAST” transforms local plastic waste into modular construction materials, significantly reducing embodied carbon and waste while meeting structural and durability standards.
Transcriptive Dwelling
Atsushi Yamaguchi, Rintaro Hirai, Ryuya Iijima, Yusuke Takabe (Japan)
This contribution reimagines a historic, wood-dense neighbourhood in Osaka, Japan, through phased adaptive reuse, fostering a localised circular economy while preserving social and spatial memory.
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Acknowledgement prize winners (each project awarded with 1,500 Euros)
Re:Malmö
Tobiasz Obrebski (Denmark); Henry François Brüning, Kwasi Adjavon, Sanin Demo
(Sweden)
The project activates public waterfront spaces in Malmö, Sweden, while respecting historical layers and advancing sustainability goals.
Re:Platform Rigs of Renewal-Offshore Waste Recycling & Marine Regeneration System
Jyun-Wei Ai (Taiwan, China)
“Rigs of Renewal” converts decommissioned offshore platforms into regenerative ocean nodes, addressing marine plastic pollution and promoting energy reuse.
second hand architecture – building with textile waste
Otto Closs, Leonard Richter, Marc Ritz (Germany)
The proposal explores the transformation of textile waste into construction components and realises a prototype pavilion built entirely from recycled textiles.
Youth Exchange ‘HOPE HOME’
Sofiia Halat (Ukraine)
The initiative “HOPE HOME” restores community spaces in Ukraine through youth-led action, strengthening local resilience and introducing eco-construction practices in a post-occupation context.
Jury members:
- Tatiana Bilbao
Architect, Mexico City, Mexico - Barbara Buser
Architect, Basel, Switzerland - Momoyo Kaijima
Architect, Tokyo, Japan - Mark Lee
Architect, New York, United States - Zegeye Cherenet Mamo
Architect, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia - Jane Wernick
Engineer, London, United Kingdom
The awarded concepts explore a wide range of solutions, including modular construction systems, buildings designed for disassembly and reuse, integration of renewable and reclaimed materials, and multifunctional spaces that respond to evolving social and environmental needs. Together, they illustrate how circular public infrastructure can reduce environmental impacts while enhancing social value and economic eficiency.
Jury member and architect Tatiana Bilbao highlighted: “The future lies in the willingness to try new things and respond to major dificulties with pragmatic solutions – the competition has clearly shown that this is possible.”
UNU-FLORES, founded in Dresden, Germany, in 2012, is one of thirteen institutes of the United Nations University located worldwide. Operating at the intersection of science, policy, and education, UNUFLORES addresses sustainability challenges through an integrated understanding of resource interconnections, known as the Resource Nexus. By linking research and policy engagement, the institute supports informed decision-making at the local and international levels.
UNU-FLORES and the entire team behind the House of No Waste competition sincerely thank all participants, experts, and jury members for their dedication and contributions to making this competition and exhibition possible.
All inspiring designs can be explored online at: https://go.unu.edu/HØW-online-exhibition
For more information: houseofnowaste.org
Contact: Atiqah Fairuz Salleh, Advisor Strategic Initiatives (b.m.salleh@unu.edu)
