2025 ICIAD Architecture Design Award

The 2025 ICIAD Architecture Design Award is guided by the core themes of "Cultural Heritage · Cross-disciplinary Innovation · Future Exploration," with a focus on the creative transformation of cultural values and sustainable practices within the field of architecture. The competition encourages architects and design teams worldwide to activate cultural heritage through innovative thinking and to pursue the coexistence of architectural spaces with humanity, environment, and technology. Participants are invited to integrate regional cultural identity with contemporary design language, achieving harmony between function and artistry, and between tradition and futurism. By recognizing projects that combine cultural depth, social responsibility, and ecological consciousness, this award aims to establish an international platform for dialogue within the industry, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and empower sustainable development for cities and communities—delivering innovative solutions for the built environment of tomorrow.

As one of the principal categories of the 2025 ICIAD International Cultural Innovation Art & Design Awards, the ICIAD Architecture Design Award welcomes submissions from architects, design firms, university research teams, and emerging designers worldwide. We seek architectural works grounded in cultural heritage and driven by cross-disciplinary innovation. Through project submission, expert evaluation, and curated exhibitions, the award promotes collaboration and the exchange of outstanding design ideas, injecting new humanistic and forward-thinking energy into the global architecture industry.

Tags：2025 · Architecture · Award · Design · ICIAD

Residential Architecture
Detached houses, townhouses, apartment buildings, high-rise residences, micro-homes, sustainable and smart homes, prefabricated/modular homes, senior living, and other types of residential architecture.
Commercial & Public Architecture
Hotels and resorts, healthcare and hospital buildings, office buildings, commercial complexes, retail and consumer spaces, restaurants, sustainable commercial buildings, financial institutions, and other commercial or public space architecture.
Education, Cultural & Institutional Projects
Schools and educational complexes, cultural centers, art galleries, museums, libraries, theaters, civic centers, historical heritage conservation and adaptive reuse projects, exhibition/convention spaces, industrial facilities, and other institutional buildings.
Urban Planning & Infrastructure Design
Urban master planning, community planning, smart city solutions, transportation hubs, bridges, piers, tunnels, pedestrian walkways, plazas, public spaces, and other infrastructure projects.
Landscape & Environmental Design
Parks, plazas, residential landscapes, urban green spaces, waterfront developments, landmark landscapes, corporate campuses, sustainable environments, private gardens, educational and recreational spaces, etc.
Architectural Lighting & Facade Design
Interior lighting, exterior facade lighting, landscape lighting, intelligent lighting systems, architectural facades, light installations, creative facade solutions, and other related designs.
Other Architectural & Spatial Design
Other types of architectural or spatial innovation, including experimental and cross-disciplinary space projects.

Submission Guidelines

Required Materials:

Portfolio of Works: 5-10 high-resolution images (JPG/PNG, 300dpi) that showcase the project, including design drawings, renderings, or photographs of the actual project, to thoroughly highlight the key features of the work.
Design Description: A bilingual description (Chinese and English) within 500 words, detailing the cultural context, creative highlights, and application scenarios of the project, to help judges understand the unique value of the submission.

Optional Materials:

Design Video: No longer than 2 minutes (MP4 format), visually demonstrating the design process or interactive features to enhance the expressiveness of the submission.
Supplementary Documents: Provide patent certificates, user feedback, or media reviews (PDF format) to support the innovation and market recognition of the project.

Evaluation Criteria

Innovation (30%):
Assesses the groundbreaking nature of the concept, form, or technology.
• Cultural Value (30%):
Evaluates the depth and breadth of the work's translation of traditional culture or cross-cultural expression.
• Application Potential (20%):
Considers the commercial, social, or environmental benefits and practicality of the work.
• Aesthetic Presentation (20%):
Focuses on the quality of visual communication and user experience.

Important Dates & Fees

Key Dates

April 20, 2025: Registration Opens
June 20, 2025: Early Bird Registration Deadline
August 20, 2025: Standard Registration Deadline
September 20, 2025: Late Registration Deadline
October 2025: Preliminary Judging
November 2025: Final Judging
December 2025: Online Announcement of Winners

Entry Fees

Entry fee is charged per submitted project.

Registration Period	Professional Group	Emerging Group
Early Bird ( until 2025/6/20)	$20 / project	$10 / project
Standard ( until 2025/8/20)	$40 / project	$15 / project
Late ( until 2025/9/20)	$60 / project	$20 / project

Main Category Honors

Award Tier	Percentage	Honor Benefits
Gold Award	Top 10%	Digitally Certified Credential + Exclusive ICIAD Online Gallery Space + Digital Annual Archive
Silver Award	Top 20%	Digitally Certified Credential + ICIAD Virtual Gallery Inclusion + Digital Annual Archive
Bronze Award	Top 30%	Digitally Certified Credential + Digital Portfolio Archiving

Annual Special Awards

Award Title	Criteria
Cultural Innovation Excellence Award	Best Cultural Value-Oriented Work of the Year
Sustainable Design Pioneer Award	Based on LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) Framework
Emerging Creator Elite Award	Supreme Honor for Emerging Group

All special award-winning works will receive international media promotion resources.

Terms & Conditions


Intellectual Property Compliance All entries must be original works free from third-party IP infringement. In case of copyright, patent disputes or related legal claims, the Organizer shall bear no liability, and the entrant assumes full legal responsibility.
Usage Rights Grant By entering the competition, participants grant the Organizer perpetual, royalty-free global rights to utilize submitted works (including derivatives) for non-commercial academic promotion, exhibitions, publications, and media outreach.
Fees & Disqualification Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Submissions failing technical specifications or violating competition rules will be automatically disqualified without prior notice.
Jurisdiction Clause The International Cultural Federation (ICF) reserves sole and exclusive authority to interpret or amend competition terms.

Intellectual Property Compliance

All entries must be original works free from third-party IP infringement. In case of copyright, patent disputes or related legal claims, the Organizer shall bear no liability, and the entrant assumes full legal responsibility.

Usage Rights Grant

By entering the competition, participants grant the Organizer perpetual, royalty-free global rights to utilize submitted works (including derivatives) for non-commercial academic promotion, exhibitions, publications, and media outreach.

Fees & Disqualification

Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Submissions failing technical specifications or violating competition rules will be automatically disqualified without prior notice.

Jurisdiction Clause

The International Cultural Federation (ICF) reserves sole and exclusive authority to interpret or amend competition terms.

Contact Information