Competition overview:
The project seeks visions for a museum that employs cutting-edge technology, such as virtual reality, holography, and interactive displays, to bring ancient Egypt to life. It will also serve as an educational resource and tourist attraction, promoting cultural preservation through innovation.
Design Unlimited is a platform dedicated to organizing architecture design competitions and providing construction opportunities for passionate young architects, designers, recent graduates, and students.
Brief:
Cairo — a cradle of civilization, a city layered with the relics of millennia — stands at the crossroads of memory and modernity. As one of the world’s richest cultural landscapes, it faces the urgent challenge of safeguarding its heritage amidst rapid urbanization, climate stress, and evolving modes of engagement. Many invaluable artifacts remain locked in inaccessible vaults or are deteriorating under environmental duress.
The Digital Heritage Museum proposes a bold architectural response: a new kind of cultural institution that uses emerging technologies to digitally preserve, reconstruct, and reinterpret Egypt’s vast and diverse cultural legacy. This is not a museum of artifacts, but a museum of experiences — an immersive gateway into ancient knowledge systems, stories, and lost environments.
This competition invites architects, designers, and students to envision a site-specific, technologically-forward, and culturally-sensitive museum that bridges the past with the future, positioning Cairo as a global leader in the preservation of digital heritage.
Preserving the past, designing the future.
Site Location:
El-Remaya Square, Cairo, Egypt
The El-Remaya Square site is a prominent urban node located near Cairo, Egypt, next to the gateway to the Giza Plateau. Known for its strategic position at the intersection of major highways and tourist routes, it serves as a key arrival point for visitors to the Pyramids and other historic landmarks.
Timeline:
May 25. 2025 - Jun 25, 2025, Early Registration - €39
Jun 26, 2025 - Aug 21, 2025, Standard Registration - €49
Aug 22, 2025 – Sep 12, 2025, Late Registration - €59
Sep 14, 2025 - Submission Deadline
Sep 29 – Oct 17, 2025 - Jury Review
Oct 27, 2025 - Winner Announced
Prize:
1st Prize: $3,000 + Certificate + Publication
2nd Prize: $700 + Certificate + Publication
3rd Prize: $300 + Certificate + Publication
3x Honorable Mentions: Certificate + Publication
4x Special Mentions: Publication
* All winning projects have the potential to be showcased on various websites, in magazines, and across architectural platforms. Additionally, they may feature prominently in national and international architectural exhibitions and events.
All eligible winners will have the opportunity to receive official Design Unlimited certificates in electronic format, acknowledging their achievement. In addition, the winning team is entitled to order a high-quality, beautifully framed physical print of the certificate. This print will be crafted with attention to detail, ensuring a lasting and impressive representation of their work.
Design Unlimited's official publications showcase the inspiring outcomes of our International Design Competitions. The Yearbook edition offers an insightful look at a selection of groundbreaking competition case studies, featuring some of the most impactful projects from our recent events. Each yearbook serves as a celebration of innovative design and a platform for emerging talent, while also looking ahead to the future, with the hope that these designs will play a role in shaping a better, more sustainable design world.
Jury Panel:
Alberto Francini / Michael den Otter / Sumit Sahdev / Simon McKenzie / Sherry Li
* Each jury undergoes meticulous nomination, consisting of top-tier professionals whose expertise closely aligns with the competition's theme. This rigorous selection process ensures that every jury member embodies excellence and relevance in their respective fields.
Outstanding participants may receive job or internship offers, supported by the jury panel and their connections, to advance their careers in design and architecture.
