Introduction

As cities densify and ground-level open spaces diminish, rooftops emerge as an untapped layer of the urban fabric. Urban Roofscape Activation – Designing Beyond the Ground invites architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine rooftops as active, inclusive, and meaningful spaces. The competition encourages participants to explore how roofs can evolve beyond utilitarian surfaces into social, ecological, cultural, and experiential extensions of the city.

Objective

The objective of this competition is to generate innovative design proposals that activate urban rooftops and redefine their role within contemporary cities. Participants are encouraged to propose adaptable, scalable, and context-sensitive roofscape interventions that enhance urban life, promote sustainability, and foster community engagement.

The Building Program

Participants may propose one or more of the following functions, or reinterpret them creatively:

• Community and social gathering spaces

• Urban farming or rooftop gardens

• Cultural or recreational zones

• Wellness, leisure, or contemplative spaces

• Climate-responsive and ecological installations

• Mixed-use or hybrid roofscape programs

The proposal should clearly demonstrate how the roof becomes an active, accessible, and integrated urban space.

Site

The site is open and participant-defined.

Participants may select any urban rooftop—residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial—located in any city worldwide. The chosen site should be justified through context, relevance, and potential for roofscape activation.