Contest progresses to create ‘new world wonder’ for climate action

Tenderstream members Mecanoo and MVDRV have been selected to advance as finalists in the Shift International Architecture Competition to create an iconic landmark that will become a “new world wonder”. The five teams through to stage two of the contest are competing to create a visitor experience that fosters deep emotional connection and inspires large-scale behavioural change in response to the climate crisis.

Within the new space, a permanent program curated by Shift will encourage and nurture sustainable behaviours, including immersive experiences highlighting authentic stories of climate and sustainability champions. Three of the five finalists - Mecanoo, MVRDV and Office for Political Innovation - were selected by a diverse jury of eleven experts in architecture, sustainability, biodiversity, culture, and impact investment. The remaining firms, Heatherwick Studio and Ecosistema Urbano, had been preselected ahead of the open call to signal the range and calibre of talent to Shift’s key stakeholders: 

Jury member Ben van Berkel, founder of Tenderstream member UNStudio, stated: “Architecture today must do more than solve problems - it must spark imagination, shift behaviour, and foster new forms of community. The five selected proposals each do this in their own way. They challenge conventions, embrace complexity, and show how design can become a catalyst for systemic change. This is the kind of thinking our future demands.” 

Each team will receive €40,000 to expand their vision ahead of the final jury presentation. The winning concept will be awarded an additional €50,000 and will form the foundation for the first Shift Landmark, to be built in the Netherlands.

Lucy Nordberg
Tenderstream Head of Research

This tender was first published by Tenderstream on 15.01.2025 here

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