
INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION
ELEVATING ELEGANCE
RESULT
ELEVATING ELEGANCE
Editorial reflection
In a world where luxury is increasingly defined not by excess but by intention, “Elevating Elegance – The Minimalist Hotel Challenge” invited designers to reimagine hospitality through the lens of simplicity. This competition called for a refined architectural language—one that embraces clarity, restraint, and the quiet power of well-considered spaces. The resulting proposals demonstrate that true elegance lies not in abundance, but in the careful curation of experience, atmosphere, and form.
The submissions revealed a deep sensitivity toward context, materiality, and the human experience. Participants thoughtfully explored how light, space, and nature can be orchestrated to create environments of calm and introspection. By integrating sustainable strategies with minimalist design principles, these projects present a vision of hospitality that is both environmentally responsible and emotionally resonant—where every element serves a purpose and contributes to a holistic sense of well-being.
As we announce the results, we celebrate designs that successfully elevate simplicity into a meaningful expression of luxury. These works challenge conventional notions of opulence and instead offer a timeless, conscious approach to hospitality—one that aligns with the evolving values of contemporary living and sets a benchmark for the future of minimalist design.
EXPERTS
Jury Panel
Distinguished architects from around the world evaluate submissions with rigorous professional standards and creative insight.
01 First Place
Winner
Délibáb
Gergö Radnai, Adrienn Bálint, Katalin Gerncsi & Andrea Magyari
Juror’s Comment:
A deeply poetic and conceptually rigorous project that translates the vastness and stillness of the landscape into a refined architectural experience of silence, sky, and horizon.
Work on:
The strong inward-focused courtyard typology, while powerful, may slightly limit the diversity of outward experiential sequences across the journey.
Special Mention
Exceptional
«Les Aulnays» Silence Reflection…
Ouissal Delabarre & Octavie Warneys
Juror’s Comment:
An exceptionally refined and mature proposal that embodies minimalism as experience—silence, rarity, and deep connection to landscape—while demonstrating outstanding restraint and ecological sensitivity.
Work on:
The extreme minimal program (very limited keys) may challenge scalability and broader hospitality applicability, though conceptually it remains very strong.
Honourable Mention
A touch of infinity
Filip Feco
Juror’s Comment:
A beautifully restrained and conceptually strong project that transforms the night sky into the primary architectural element, achieving a rare balance between minimalism, experience, and poetic narrative.
Work on:
The repetition of identical units, while disciplined, may risk monotony—introducing subtle variation in spatial experience could enhance long-term engagement.
Honourable Mention
Slit
Klara Lovas, Anna Dora Safrany, Monika Darida & Kata Tuboly
Juror’s Comment:
A powerful and highly controlled architectural gesture that transforms a scarred landscape into an intense, layered spatial experience rooted in light, depth, and perception.
Work on:
The strong vertical and sectional dominance may feel slightly restrictive or less universally comfortable for a hospitality setting over extended stays.
Honourable Mention
Falaise
Samira Khazaz & Evan Savary
Juror’s Comment:
An exceptionally sensitive and poetic intervention that dissolves architecture into the cliff, achieving a powerful sense of place and understated luxury.
Work on:
While integration is outstanding, the project could push innovation in environmental systems further to match its strong architectural narrative.
Honourable Mention
Janubio Horizon
Sara Hashemzadeh & Mattia Zancanaro
Juror’s Comment:
A highly refined and context-sensitive design that beautifully merges architecture with the volcanic landscape, using restraint to elevate the experiential quality.
Work on:
The spatial sequence risks becoming predictable—further variation in experiential moments could enrich the journey.
Honourable Mention
Nebula
Alena Ustina
Juror’s Comment:
A poetic and technologically ambitious proposal that merges architecture, landscape, and atmosphere into a highly immersive and future-forward experience.
Work on:
The formal complexity slightly contradicts the core ethos of minimalism—simplifying the architectural language could strengthen conceptual clarity.
Celebrating Potential
Shortlisted Entries
Innovative ideas that stood out among hundreds of entries and earned a place in the final shortlist.
1. Design Title: The Line Hotel
Winners Name: Agata Gąsiorek
2. Design Title: Levitating minimalist hotel
Winners Name: Timea Drábiková
3. Design Title: Dune - A Minimalist Hotel Inspired by the Baltic Coastal Landscape
Winners Name: Joanna Dobrowolska & Natalia Markowska
4. Design Title: The Lens Hotel
Winners Name: Julia Błach
5. Design Title: Hotel extrusion
Winners Name: Gabrielle Huet
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