Kaira Looro Architecture Competition 2024

The next contest will be published in January 2024

Competition awards
Cash prize + Internship at Kengo Kuma + Construction



Kaira Looro is one of the most important international architecture competitions open to student and young architect individually and focusing on the themes of humanitarian architecture for emergencies and development.

The competition enjoys the participation in the jury of some of the architects on the international scene including: Kengo Kuma (Jury's president since 2016), Agostino Ghirardelli (SBGA), Benedetta Tagliabue (EMBT), Manuel Aires Mateus, Mario Cucinella, Raul Pantaleo (TAM Associati) Mpheti Morojele, Urko Sanchez, Amande Levete, AL_A, Sharon Davis, El Kabbaj, Siana, Kettani, ASF International, MVRDV and others.

It's a non profit event which the goals are: to launch young architect talents in the professional world, thanks to prestigious prizes, publications, contructions and internships in international architecture firm; to raise awareness in the international community regarding the topics of humanitarian emergencies; supporting charity projets to which the entire proceeds (registration fee) of the competition are donated.

The event is organised by the humanitarian organisation Balouo Salo which operates in Africa and focuses on charitable projects which provide support to disadvantaged communities. The words “kaira looro” are in the language of the Mandinka people, an African culture which comprises the majority of the population in the area where our humanitarian projects are developed. The words mean “architecture for peace”.

Stay connected with us on facebook and instagram.

Kaira Looro Past Editions

Primary School in Africa

South of Senegal

Contest aimed of selectiCompetition for the selection of a new school model in the rural contexts of southern Senegal, to protect the right to education of every children.

Children's House in Africa

Baghere Senegal

Contest aimed of selecting an architecture as a warm and welcoming place where activities aimed at preventing child malnutrition can be carried out in a rural environment

Women's House in Africa

Baghere Senegal

The objective of the architecture competition is the creation of a “Women’s House” within a symbolic and environmentally friendly structure that is inspired by local traditions, that can promote Women's Empowerment.

Emergency Operations Centre

Sub-Saharian Africa

Competition aimed to design an architecture that will house an EOC (Emergency Operations Center) and that can help to facilitate the humanitarian operations of international organisations.

Peace Pavilion

Sedhiou, Senegal, Africa

Remembering the victims through the universal value of peace can help to lay the foundation for the creation of an inclusive and cohesive society.

Cultural Center

Sedhiou, Senegal, Africa

Hundred-years old cultures give birth to Communities, being transmitted through rhymes of those who are narrating it and interpretating tha past through wisdom. One's accomplishments result from rituals and metamorphosis, bonding the human being to its own roots.

Sacred Architecture

Tanaff, Senegal, Africa

Introspection, spirituality and divinity. These are the elements around which the sacred architecture revolves. The light and the lightness of the materials join sacred and profane, creating an architecture.

Workshop '16

Catania, Italy, Europa

The event represented an international architecture workshop organized in september 2016 together with In/arch Sicilia and CA2Lab from University of Catania, aimed to support the Dam-Bridge project.

Architecture firms in the jury of last years

Kengo Kuma
MIRALLES TAGLIABUE EMBT
Studio Blengini Ghirardelli Architects
Mario Cucinella Architects
TAM Associati
Aires Mateus
Amande Levete Architects
Giuseppe Mazzaglia MVRDV
Sharon Davis Design architect
Mphethi Morojele architect
Architecture sans frontieres international
emmanuelle moureaux architect
 driss kettani
SAAD EL KABBAJ
MOHAMED  AMINE SIANA
Urko Sanchez Architects
African Union WGDD The Women, Gender and Development Directorate
Un Women

All previous winners

Artha Krisiantara

Ziyu Guo

Winner of Kaira Looro 2023
Primary School

Ziyu Guo

Ziyu Guo

Winner of Kaira Looro 2022
Children's House

Juan Pablo Lopez Isabella

Juan Pablo Lopez Isabella

Winner of Kaira Looro 2021
Women's House

 Aleksandra Wróbel

Aleksandra Wróbel

Winner of Kaira Looro 2020
Emergency Operations Center

Kamil Owczarek

Kamil Owczarek

Winner of Kaira Looro 2020
Emergency Operations Center

Agnieszka Witaszek

Agnieszka Witaszek

Winner of Kaira Looro 2020
Emergency Operations Center

Changze Cai

Changze Cai

Winner of Kaira Looro 2019
Peace Pavillon

 Giacomo Spanio

Giacomo Spanio

Winner of Kaira Looro 2018
Cultural Center

Paolo Reali

Paolo Reali

Winner of Kaira Looro 2018
Cultural Center

Sergiu Cernea

Sergiu Cernea

Winner of Kaira Looro 2018
Cultural Center

Nicola Puppin

Nicola Puppin

Winner of Kaira Looro 2018
Cultural Center

Natalia Serafin

Natalia Serafin

Winner of Kaira Looro 2017
Sacred Architecture

Anita Wisniewska

Anita Wisniewska

Winner of Kaira Looro 2017
Sacred Architecture

Paulina Gorecka

Paulina Gorecka

Winner of Kaira Looro 2017
Sacred Architecture


Join the competition

Register for the competition and design your architecture