🏔️ About EPIC Cabins
We design regenerative micro-resorts in extraordinary places. 🌍
EPIC Cabins is a global regenerative resort design studio creating custom-made micro-resorts and “living landmarks” in powerful natural locations — islands, forests, mountains, coastlines. ✨
🤝 We work with landowners, developers, architects, and investors to transform raw land into high-emotion, high-impact hospitality destinations. Every project is custom-tailored to its landscape, climate, culture, and story — no catalogue, no repetition.
⚙️ Our proprietary Plug&Live™ panel system allows hotel-grade, fully finished structures to be shipped as compact flat-packs and installed on site in just 2–7 days ⏱️, with minimal disturbance to the land. Structures can be disassembled, relocated, and re-used, supporting a truly circular, regenerative model of hospitality. ♻️
Why we created this challenge 🎓
Shaping the next chapter of hospitality — together. 🚀
🌱 We believe the future of hospitality will be shaped by young designers who dare to imagine new ways of living with nature — beyond “eco-style” into genuinely regenerative places that heal land, people, and communities.
🧠 This challenge is our way of opening EPIC’s world to the next generation of architects and spatial thinkers. We are looking for concepts that are:
- Bold & iconic — instantly recognisable, emotionally unforgettable.
- Regenerative by design — restoring ecosystems and supporting local life.
- Modular & buildable — compatible with timber/CLT and Plug&Live™ thinking.
- Guest-centred — crafted around stillness, presence, and deep rest.
🌍 By entering, you don’t just compete for a prize — you contribute to EPIC’s evolving portfolio of future micro-resorts and may become part of our global EPIC Circle of Architects. 🤝
Official Rules
👥 1. Eligibility
- Open to all architecture students (Bachelor, Master, or recent graduates within the last 2 years).
- Participants may enter individually or in teams of up to 3 members.
- By entering, participants confirm that their submission is their original work.
🎨 2. Challenge Theme & Objectives
Design an Iconic Signature Cabin or Micro-Resort Concept that reflects the values of:
- 🌿 Regeneration — design that restores balance to nature, people, and place.
- 🏗️ Modular Innovation — feasible modular/timber/CLT design, buildable and relocatable.
- ✨ Guest Experience — architecture that inspires emotion and creates unforgettable stays.
- ♻️ Circular Thinking — cabins that can be renewed, resold, and reintroduced into use endlessly.
📦 3. Deliverables
Each submission must include:
- Concept Board (PDF or JPG, A2 format) showing the design concept, site integration, and mood.
- Floor Plan(s) and Section(s) with basic dimensions.
- 3D Visualization / Render or Hand Sketch to illustrate atmosphere.
- Short Concept Text (max 500 words) explaining the story, inspiration, and regenerative impact.
📝 4. Evaluation Criteria
- Design Vision (originality, creativity, narrative) – 30%
- Feasibility & Buildability (use of modular, timber, CLT) – 25%
- Regenerative Impact (environmental & cultural sensitivity) – 25%
- Guest Experience (comfort, emotion, atmosphere) – 20%
⏰ 5. Timeline
- Launch: 01.02.2026
- Submission Deadline: 30.04.2026
- Final Jury & Announcement: 01.08.2026
🏆 6. Prizes
🏆 Winners receive:
- 🥇 1st Prize — Built in EPIC’s Demo Resort, co-developed with EPIC’s professional team. Includes paid collaboration, travel, and accommodation.
- 🥈 2nd Prize — Join EPIC on a live global project with behind-the-scenes access. Includes paid travel and accommodation.
- 🥉 3rd Prize — One-on-one mentorship and consulting with EPIC (portfolio, design strategy, real-world resort development).
Plus:
- Showcasing shortlisted projects to top media (Dezeen, ArchDaily, Designboom).
- Lifetime access to EPIC Connect.
- Opportunity to join the EPIC Circle of Architects.
⚡ Spots are limited. Only the boldest visions make the final.
⚖️ 7. Intellectual Property
- All participants retain authorship of their design concepts.
- By submitting, participants grant EPIC Cabins the right to publish, showcase, and promote their work in media, exhibitions, and digital platforms, always with full credit to the author(s).
- Winning projects may be further developed by EPIC Cabins in collaboration with the author(s).
📤 8. Submission Method
- Submissions must be uploaded digitally via epic-cabins.com/challenge.
- Accepted file formats: PDF (max 20MB), JPG/PNG images (300dpi).
- Each entry must include participant(s) name, school/university, and contact details.
📜 9. Code of Conduct
- All work must be original. Plagiarism or copyright infringement will result in disqualification.
- The jury’s decision is final.