Rework by xFigura: Adaptive Reuse Competition

Rework by xFigura is a free adaptive reuse competition: pick an existing building anywhere that has stopped working and design its second life. USD 15,000 in prizes; entries close on 29 November 2026.

Elif Ayse Sen13 November 20261 Mins read1

Rework by xFigura: Adaptive Reuse Competition

Image: courtesy xFigura

Competition 16 days left

Category: Open call
Organizer: xFigura
Location: International (online)
Project site: An existing building of the entrant's choice, anywhere in the world
Eligibility: Architects, designers and students worldwide aged 18 and over, alone or in teams of 1 to 10, with one account submitting for the team. A free xFigura account is required.
Language: English
Registration deadline: 29 November 2026
Submission deadline: 29 November 2026
Results announcement: 11 December 2026
Fees: Free
Prizes: USD 15,000 in total: USD 8,000 first, USD 3,000 second, USD 2,000 third, USD 1,000 xFigura Choice, USD 1,000 student mention
Jury: Practising architects, to be announced on 9 November 2026. The xFigura team reviews every entry and shortlists the top 20 for the jury.
Submission requirements: Project made in xFigura (sketches, models and other tools can feed into it). Required: one main image (long edge 3,000 to 4,000 px), a social carousel of up to 10 images at 1080 x 1440, a narrative of up to 300 words, a 30 to 60 second video link and the xFigura board. Optional: 3 to 5 supporting images (plans, sections, views, long edge at least 2,000 px). Deadline 11:59 pm ET on 29 November 2026.

Prize breakdown

First prize: USD 8,000, featured across xFigura channels
Second prize: USD 3,000
Third prize: USD 2,000
xFigura Choice, picked by the xFigura team: USD 1,000
Student mention: USD 1,000 (student ID required if shortlisted)
Honourable mentions: 3 months of xFigura Pro
Certificate for every author of an accepted entry
Team prizes are paid to the submitting account holder

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Brief and registration

Rework by xFigura is the first competition run by the design platform xFigura, and its subject is adaptive reuse. Starting from the idea that the greenest building is often the one already standing, it asks entrants to choose an existing building anywhere in the world that has stopped working and to design the intervention that gives it a second life. Entry is free, the prize pool is USD 15,000, and submissions close at 11:59 pm US Eastern time on Sunday 29 November 2026.

The brief

The building can be a real project the entrant already knows or an unbuilt idea; both are accepted. The full brief, with references and site ideas, goes by email to registered entrants on Monday 9 November, and a kickoff workshop follows on Tuesday 10 November, live and recorded. The organisers say the task is scoped so it could be done in a weekend, with three weeks available.

Who can enter

The competition is open worldwide to architects, designers and students aged 18 and over. Entrants can work alone or in teams of one to ten, with one account submitting for the whole team. A free xFigura account is all that is needed, and registering counts as entering.

What to submit

Projects are made in xFigura, from first idea to final images, although sketches, physical models and other tools can feed into the work. Each entry needs a main image, a social carousel of up to ten portrait images, a narrative of up to 300 words, a video of 30 to 60 seconds and the xFigura board, which the jury reviews to see the process. Three to five supporting plans, sections or views are optional. Authors keep their work, and xFigura features it with credit.

Judging

The xFigura team reviews every entry and passes a top 20 to a jury of practising architects, to be named on 9 November. Entries are scored out of ten on impact, sustainability, design quality and storytelling.

Prizes and key dates

First prize USD 8,000, second USD 3,000, third USD 2,000
xFigura Choice USD 1,000 and student mention USD 1,000
Brief published: 9 November 2026
Submissions close: 29 November 2026, 11:59 pm ET
Winners announced: 11 December 2026

Registration is on the Rework competition page.

Written by

Elif Ayse Sen

Elif Ayse Sen is a senior architecture writer at illustrarch. A trained architect with a B.Arch from Altınbaş University, she covers interior design, architecture schools and education, and residential design, and has written hundreds of articles for the publication.