Openair Suites

DESIGNING A NEW LANGUAGE FOR RURAL HOSPITALITY IN SICILY

Terraviva presents Openair Suites, a new international architecture competition inviting designers and architects to envision an Architectural Brandbook for a system of contemporary accommodation suites set within Sicily’s dramatic volcanic landscape. Rooted at the foothills of Mount Etna, the competition explores how architecture can shape a refined yet deeply immersive rural hospitality experience.

With prize awards reaching up to 8,000 euros and an international jury featuring professionals from architecture, industrial design, branding, and sustainable tourism, Openair Suites positions itself as a forward looking platform for experimentation at the intersection of landscape, identity, and experiential design.

CONCEPT AND DESIGN VISION

Openair Suites challenges participants to imagine a new model of rural accommodation that moves beyond the traditional notion of hospitality. The task is to design two prototype suite modules conceived as part of a coherent architectural system, capable of generating a recognizable and adaptable identity across different rural contexts.

Rather than focusing solely on individual buildings, the competition emphasizes the creation of a holistic spatial language. Architecture becomes a medium for slow living, encouraging guests to inhabit the landscape through carefully framed views, tactile materials, and intimate relationships between indoor and outdoor space. Small scale interventions are treated as powerful tools for crafting memorable, experience driven stays rooted in authenticity and place.

ARCHITECTURAL BRANDBOOK AND SYSTEM THINKING

At the core of the proposal lies the development of an Architectural Brandbook that translates the Openair Suites vision into a set of clear and timeless design principles. Each suite, cluster, and outdoor environment should feel unmistakably part of the Openair Suites network, maintaining visual and spatial consistency while remaining flexible enough to adapt to diverse agricultural landscapes.

Beyond defining form and material, participants are asked to articulate how this system comes to life within a real site. La Fucina di Vulcano, an existing rural hospitality complex, serves as the testing ground for introducing a new cluster of suites. Designers are encouraged to propose lightweight and reversible structures that minimize impact on the land while enhancing comfort, privacy, and spatial quality. The goal is to create architecture that feels both contemporary and deeply attuned to its natural surroundings.

AWARDS AND VISIBILITY

The competition offers a total prize pool equivalent to approximately 9,300 US dollars. The winning proposal will receive 3,000 euros, followed by second and third prizes of 2,000 and 1,000 euros. Additional recognitions include golden mentions, honorable mentions, and finalist selections, with awarded projects featured across Terraviva’s international platforms. This exposure provides participants with valuable visibility within the global architecture and design community.

SUBMISSION FORMAT

Participants are required to submit a horizontal A3 booklet of up to 30 pages that presents the Architectural Brandbook and design system, along with a single horizontal A1 panel summarizing the proposal. Submissions should clearly communicate conceptual intent, spatial strategies, and the relationship between architecture, landscape, and hospitality experience.

INTERNATIONAL JURY

Projects will be evaluated by an international jury composed of architects, designers, brand strategists, and hospitality experts. The panel includes Giovanni Polazzi of Archea Associati, Aldo Cingolani of Bertone Design, Eugenia Pronzati of The Blue Corner, Sergio Redaelli of Crippaconcept, Sergio Pitrone of Vertumn, Gloria Pierluigi of Fuorirotta, Francesco Salvaggio of myGlamping.it, and Giorgia Dallasio of Sustainable Brand Platform. Their combined expertise ensures a multidisciplinary and forward looking evaluation process.

TIMELINE AND PARTICIPATION

The competition opens on January 20, with registration available through early April. Final submissions are due on April 10, 2026, and the winners will be announced on May 11, 2026. Openair Suites is open to architects and designers worldwide, offering a unique opportunity to engage with rural hospitality, branding, and architectural systems within one of Europe’s most evocative landscapes.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Openair Suites invites creative professionals and emerging designers to redefine rural hospitality through architecture that is light, adaptable, and deeply connected to place. By merging brand identity, landscape sensitivity, and contemporary design, the competition seeks visionary proposals that shape a new way of living with nature.

Click here to get the call for entries.