The Antepavilion competition has launched its 2026 edition, marking the eighth year of this influential architecture program that challenges emerging designers to create temporary installations using exclusively reclaimed materials. Entrants must submit their proposals by March 27, 2026, for a chance to win a total prize package of £15,000 and see their design realized at one of two distinctive sites in London. This year's brief represents a significant evolution for the competition, mandating the use of salvaged materials rather than merely encouraging sustainable practices as in previous years. The competition organizers have framed this shift within the context of a post-artificial intelligence era, suggesting that architects may need to reconnect with hands-on craftsmanship as automation transforms traditional professional roles.
The Antepavilion initiative was established as a deliberate counterpoint to what its founders describe as "factory architecture" and "battery-farm architecture" dominating contemporary urban development. The program specifically aims to preserve grassroots, self-built architecture and artistic free expression as viable career paths for young architects. Rather than funneling talent into large corporate firms where designers often find themselves trapped in specialized roles, Antepavilion champions an alternative model where architects work alongside craftsmen and artists. This philosophy has become particularly relevant as artificial intelligence threatens to automate many middle-class occupations, potentially including conventional architectural services. Organizers argue that this technological disruption might actually drive architects back toward their historical roots in direct construction and material craft, making competitions like Antepavilion increasingly vital for professional survival.
For the 2026 edition, participants must work entirely with reclaimed materials, including scrap steel, reusable masonry, double-glazed units, recycled Tetra Pak sheeting, and a substantial quantity of reclaimed Red Louro lath cladding stored at the Hoxton Docks site. This requirement pushes the competition to its logical conclusion after years of merely encouraging reuse. The two available locations offer distinct contexts for creative intervention. The first option is the Hoxton Docks complex along the Regents Canal at Columbia and Brunswick Wharf in Hackney, a two-story 1960s structure that originally housed the Gas Light and Coke Company. Transformed into artist studios over three decades ago, this site has hosted numerous previous Antepavilion installations including Flood House by Matthew Butcher, Potemkin Theatre by Maich Swift Architects, and All Along the Watchtower by Project Bunny Rabbit. The second site is a parcel of land on Pages Walk in Southwark, previously occupied by a Soviet T-34 tank, which served as the location for the 2024 competition.
The competition structure follows a two-phase process designed to support emerging talent. During the initial submission period, applicants must provide two A3-sized boards along with a project title and team details, plus a £20 registration fee. Site tours will be conducted on February 1, February 14, March 1, and March 14 to help participants understand the unique challenges of each location. In the second phase, up to five shortlisted teams will receive structural engineering support and a £500 bursary to further develop their construction strategies. The winning team, announced in April, will receive £10,000 in prize money plus an additional £5,000 to cover ancillary costs such as fixings, adhesives, cement, tools, and other necessary materials. The completed installation must be finished by August 1, 2026.
The competition's history includes notable winners such as George Gil's Moonument from 2025, a laminated plywood structure created in collaboration with the Redundant Architects Recreation Association, and Jaimie Shorten's floating sharks from 2020, which sparked a legal battle with Hackney Council. The council had successfully obtained an injunction requiring the removal of the shark installation, creating tension between the competition and local authorities. The 2025 edition returned to the Hoxton Docks location following this dispute, while the 2024 competition focused on the Southwark tank site and was won by Good Shape. These precedents demonstrate the competition's willingness to engage with controversial and unconventional urban spaces.
Looking ahead, the 2026 competition's emphasis on pure material reuse positions it at the forefront of architectural discourse about sustainability and professional adaptation. By forcing participants to work exclusively with salvaged materials, organizers hope to demonstrate that creative design need not depend on new production and that architects can lead the transition toward circular economy principles in construction. The competition serves as both a practical training ground for emerging professionals and a theoretical exploration of how architectural practice might evolve in response to technological and environmental pressures. As the August 1 completion date approaches, the winning installation will likely attract attention from across the architecture community, offering a tangible vision of what craftsmanship-oriented, sustainable design can achieve in contemporary London.
