China Team Wins Student Prize at the 21st edition of Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest

From June 23 to June 25, the international stage of the 21st edition of Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest was held in Belgrade, Serbia. Three students from Tongji University’s College of Architecture and Urban Planning represented China in the competition. Distinguishing themselves among 34 teams from universities worldwide, they were awarded the Student Prize.

At the competition, the three students adopted the roles of “architect”, “resident” and “local bird”, presenting their project as a dialogue between people and nature. Their innovative approach and solid design were widely recognized by other participants, making them the only award-winning team among the four teams representing Asia.

This year’s contest focused on designing a waterfront community along the Sava River, aiming to create a vibrant space integrating sports, leisure and community life. With sustainability at its core, the competition helped students deepen their understanding of low-carbon design and explore how to balance sustainability with architectural solutions in practice. The China team placed water at the center of its design, integrating hydraulic systems, natural landscape and the surrounding environment.

Saint-Gobain continues supporting young talent in designing sustainable, energy-efficient living environments, and has made the contest as a key platform for architecture students worldwide to connect, exchange ideas and help shape the future together. The 22nd edition of Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest will be held in Spain, focusing on Europe's largest urban regeneration project.