Simon Architecture Prize – Living Places: 10 Years putting people at the heart of architecture

In a particularly significant year for architecture in Barcelona, with the city named UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture, Simon presents the 6th edition of its “Living Places” Architecture Prize. The award has been recognising projects that highlight the relationship between architecture, space and the people who inhabit it for the past ten years. In this new edition, the prize is also expanding its scope to include Europe, Mexico, Brazil and Morocco.

Since its creation in 2016, Living Places has championed an approach to architecture that goes beyond the building as an object, focusing instead on spaces that, through their design and adaptability, contribute to improving people’s everyday lives. Architecture designed for living, working, learning, playing and connecting with others, but above all, for being experienced by the people who inhabit it.

The 6th edition is structured around two categories, Personal Places and Collective Places, recognising projects that stand out both for their architectural quality and their ability to create comfortable, flexible spaces adapted to people’s needs. Projects completed and occupied between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025 are eligible to participate.

One of the distinctive features of the Simon Architecture Prize – Living Places is its commitment to audiovisual as a way of bringing architecture closer to the public and presenting it from a perspective that is closer to the experience of inhabiting a space. Projects are also presented through audiovisual pieces that convey their atmospheres, uses and ways of being inhabited. Over the past ten years, the prize has brought together more than 200 films offering a diverse perspective on contemporary architecture and the different ways in which spaces can be experienced.

The jury for this edition will bring together professionals from different disciplines related to architecture, design and audiovisual. Projects will be assessed throughout November, with the finalists announced in December. Each of the two categories will award a €10,000 prize to the architects responsible for the winning project, with the awards ceremony taking place in February 2027.

The call is open to architects and professionals in the field, but also allows anyone to nominate a project they consider relevant. An opportunity to discover and highlight those architectural projects that, beyond their formal dimension, are part of our everyday surroundings and contribute to creating higher-quality spaces for people.

Simon continues its commitment to design, innovation and the creation of people-centred spaces, bringing together architecture, technology and user experience. A philosophy reflected in its lighting, lighting control, connectivity and wiring accessory solutions for homes, hotels, retail spaces, workplaces and urban environments.

The open call for nominations will remain open until 14 September, while projects can be submitted until 5 October.

14 September, nomination deadline
5 October, project submission deadline
February 2027, awards ceremony