Europe’s leading façade competition, Baumit Life Challenge, will bring together creative architectural projects for the 11th time in 2026, this year in Hungary. Hundreds of entries from many countries—including Türkiye—will compete on an international stage. Projects will be evaluated in six categories: Single-Family House, Multi-Unit Residential, Non-Residential Building, ETICS Renovation, Historic Building Restoration, and Texture/Character-Defining Façade. Submissions by architecture offices will be assessed by a jury, and the awards will be presented at a ceremony in Budapest in May 2026.
Organized biennially by Baumit, the international façade competition will once again feature façades realized with Baumit products across six categories. An international jury of architects will review the entries and shortlist six finalists per category. At the finals in Budapest, category winners will be announced alongside the grand Life Challenge 2026 award. In addition to the jury’s verdict, there will be a public vote via an online platform, with the winners of the public vote receiving certificates. Entries from Türkiye are expected across multiple categories, and submissions remain open until year-end.
“Life Challenge makes architects’ visions visible on an international scale”
Highlighting that the competition serves as a meeting point for everyone interested in architecture across Europe, Baumit Türkiye Marketing Manager Selin Tümer Ataoğlu said: “Baumit Life Challenge is an international platform that brings together architects from different countries, allowing them to share their experiences and creativity. We take great pride in projects from Türkiye gaining visibility at this scale and sharing the same stage as Europe’s leading architecture firms.”
Ataoğlu added that Baumit Türkiye is committed to bringing the stories of Turkish architects who experience Life Challenge to wider audiences: “With our Life Challenge interview series published every other Friday on our social media channels, we share the experiences and perspectives of Turkish architects who have attended the gala or served on the jury. We believe these features inspire young architects and show that the competition is more than an awards night—it creates a long-term, enriching space for exchange. Architecture is not only about designing buildings; it shapes cultural heritage, the identity of cities, and their future. With Life Challenge, our aim at Baumit is to support high-quality building production.”