Dezeen has teamed up with Bentley to run a global design competition seeking bold architectural proposals to modernise historic buildings while preserving their heritage.
The Radical Renewal Competition is free to enter for anyone over the age of 18 of any profession and from any country around the world, with total prize money of £30,000 for the three best designs.
It is open for entries until 25 June 2025. The winner and runners-up will be published on Dezeen in September 2025.
Full details of how to enter the competition can be found in the competition brief and rules.
Contest calls for ideas to modernise historic buildings
The competition coincides with the unveiling of Bentley’s new Design Centre, which will open in July this year in an art deco building originally constructed in 1938 as a reception hub for Bentley’s factory in Crewe, United Kingdom.
The building has been carefully reimagined as a state-of-the-art home for Bentley’s design team, blending original historical elements with contemporary materials and technology.
The building exemplifies the brand’s expertise in combining seemingly opposing qualities without compromise. This results in cars that offer both power and refinement, high performance and luxurious comfort.
In line with this, the Radical Renewal Competition tasks participants with selecting a building of historical significance – whether an iconic landmark, a celebrated local structure or an overlooked building in need of revival – and proposing a forward-thinking design transformation to rejuvenate it.
The competition seeks proposals to breathe new life into historic buildings and balance old and new, simultaneously embracing innovation and celebrating their heritage.
Social and environmental sustainability is critical – entrants must be able to justify why their chosen building is in need of modernisation and explain how the proposed changes will positively contribute to people and the planet.
The competition is seeking speculative and future-thinking proposals. Completed renovations or retrofits will not be considered.
Entries will be judged against five criteria
Judges will be looking for bold architectural proposals to modernise historic buildings while preserving their heritage. Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
– Innovation: How original and ambitious is the proposal?
– Heritage: How well does the proposal preserve and celebrate the building’s history?
– Progression: How well does the proposed new building serve present and future needs?
– Sustainability: How does the design positively contribute to its environment and local community?
– Visual presentation: How strong is the submitted imagery and how well is the overall concept presented?
Competition closes for entries on 25 June
The Radical Renewal Competition closes for entries at midnight PT (Pacific Time) on 25 June 2025. Any entries received after this date will not be considered.
Three finalists will be announced and published on Dezeen in September 2025. Of these finalists, a winner will be selected, as well as a runner-up and third place.
The winner will win the top prize of £15,000, while the runner-up will receive £10,000 and the third-placed entrant will receive £5,000.
For more information about how to enter, including the full brief and rules, visit www.dezeen.com/bentley-radical-renewal-competition.
Partnership content
The Radical Renewal Competition is a partnership between Dezeen and Bentley. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
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