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Galápagos Retreat – Sustainable Eco-Hotel in Puerto Ayora
The Galápagos Retreat competition invites proposals for an eco-designed hotel in Puerto Ayora, the largest urban centre in the Galápagos Islands.
This competition aim to address the ecological degradation caused by rapid tourism-driven urban expansion. The project focuses on adaptive reuse of unfinished or abandoned buildings in the town using sustainable materials (e.g., volcanic rock, bamboo), modular and lightweight construction techniques, and passive environmental design strategies such as natural ventilation and solar shading. The project also intends to foster eco-tourism, promote community involvement, and demonstrate a replicable model for sustainable development in environmentally protected regions.
Location
Sector
Tourism / Sustainability
Intervention
Renovation, Extension and New Building
Tender Portal
Tender Stage
Open design competition
Deadline
27 May 2025 – Registration Closes, 31 May 2025 – Submission Deadline
Consultant Team
There is no formal list of required consultants. Eligible participants include:
Individual professionals or teams (up to four people).
Architects, designers, students, and enthusiasts from any background or country
Individual professionals or teams (up to four people).
Architects, designers, students, and enthusiasts from any background or country
Submission Criteria
1st Prize – €1.5k, 2nd Prize – €800, Editor’s Choice: €400
3x Honourable Mentions: €100 each
All monetary values are inclusive of taxes and fees.
Competition Deliverables
Submissions must include the following:
– Concept: overall design approach.
– Conceptual Diagrams: explaining key ideas.
– Perspective/Render: illustrating spatial experience.
– Section: showing spatial and structural relationships.
– Site Plan / Ground Floor Plan: context and layout.
Submission fees
– Early registration (8 Apr 2025 – 29 Apr 2025): €15
– Standard registration (30 Apr 2025 – 14 May 2025): €25
– Late registration (15 May 2025 – 27 May 2025): €40
Winners Announcement: 15 July 2025