Saint-Gobain reveals the 5 winners of the 2025 Architecture Student Contest
More than 200 universities from 33 countries participated in the 20th edition of the Architecture Student Contest. Students from all over the world imagined projects to challenge and to support the development of a peripheral urban city and a village in Nord-Isère, France, linked by the ambition of “Attracting Youth”, theme of this year’s edition.
The task for this 20th edition of the international student competition organized by Saint-Gobain in Nord-Isère (Greater Lyon Area), France, in cooperation with the city of Villefontaine, Les Grands Ateliers, the village of Chimilin, and the Alliance HQE-GBC, is to develop a residential area for visiting students and professors in an area located near the Grands Ateliers, and the renovation of an old school building in Chimilin into a multi-use building for local associations and organizations.
Architects are on the front line of the transformation of the built environment. For over 20 years, the Architecture Student Contest has aimed to bring together future architects with Saint-Gobain experts to collaboratively design projects grounded in reality and capable of addressing the major challenges of our time. The 2025 edition is a powerful new illustration of this ambition: innovative and inspiring projects, driven by a committed younger generation who is demonstrating that architecture must be at the service of creating a built environment that is beautiful, useful and sustainable for everyone — fully aligned with the Group’s purpose ‘Making the World a Better Home.
Benoit Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saint-Gobain
Every year, the projects have increased their focus on environmental aspects including for example Life Cycle Assessments, while responding to the functional and user needs. The Architecture Student Contest was launched in Serbia in 2004. A whole generation of students have now participated in the Contest and is shaping the future of sustainable architecture to make the world a better home.
The winners of the five prizes
1st prize, From Knowledge to Making, France
From Knowledge to Making The French team's project stood out thanks to its precise elaboration and strong presentation. The jury was interested in how beautifully their design connected the two sites, fostering a deeper bond between the territory and its inhabitants. Their "learning by doing" approach, powered by mobile workshops and thoughtful construction phases, alongside the clever use of local materials and distinctive architectural motifs, told a compelling story through design.
2nd Prize, Sense of Community, Estonia
Sense of Community Estonia's project created an immersive and balanced atmosphere across both sites, embodying a “sense of community”. The jury found the overall design to be exceptionally classy and well-executed, noting their CO2 calculations for different building types. Their skillful integration of new and reused elements, crafting well-designed accommodation types that blended into the landscape, made the projects harmoniously echo with each other.
3rd Prize, Energy Anchor, China
Energy Anchor Team China shone with their profound community engagement, inviting people to co-construct their vision through their “Energy Anchor”. Their project featured captivating storytelling, especially through innovative energy towers that not only supplied power but also became vibrant catalysts for bringing people together. The jury praised their strong presentation on significant improvements in energy consumption and a lower carbon footprint, alongside a clever focus on modular and flexible construction.
Student Prize, Yellow, Romania
Yellow Team Romania has presented a coherent and bold project bringing a clear connection between the two sites. The use of the color yellow in historical context was considered interesting and provocative. Leaning on a recognizable architectural motif such as pitched roof, the team has skillfully reinterpreted local architecture into new typologies. Such an approach to urban and architectural design opened a way for an array of fluid, polyvalent spaces within a clear and simple structure. Recognizing the potential of natural topography, the project proposed an elaborate landscape design intertwining it with the built spaces.
Teacher Prize, Emboîté Nomad Colombia
Emboîté Nomad The Colombian team earned the Teachers' Prize with their project, "Emboîté Nomad: A nested haven in motion". Their design showcased a profound understanding of sustainable and holistic architecture, responding to challenges brought by climate change and seasons. The jury was impressed by their strong bioclimatic analysis and the strong user-oriented human dimension of the project.