Could You Be Part of NDA’s Next Design Team?
The National Design Academy are looking for four creative students or alumni to form a team and take part in the Valli Wine Tasting Room International Architecture Competition.
This is an opportunity to work collaboratively on a real international design brief while receiving guidance from NDA Tutor Stephen and the rest of the tutor team.
Over the coming months, the selected team will work together to interpret the brief, develop their ideas and produce a completed proposal ready for submission in February 2027.
Team members will be expected to engage regularly with their teammates and the tutor team, contribute ideas and play an active role throughout the project. In return, they’ll gain valuable mentoring and collaborative experience while creating a substantial piece of work that could strengthen their portfolio.
About the Valli Wine Tasting Room Competition
Organised by Buildner, the competition centres on Valli Unite, an agricultural cooperative dedicated to organic farming and natural wine production in the rural hills of Piedmont, northern Italy.
Participants are challenged to design a small-scale tasting room connected to the cooperative’s existing wine storage facility. The proposal should create a welcoming visitor experience while responding sensitively to the surrounding landscape and Valli Unite’s commitment to sustainability, simplicity and collective rural life.
The competition offers a total prize fund of €10,000, with entries judged by an international panel of architects and industry professionals. Final registration closes on 14 January 2027, with projects due for submission by 15 February 2027.
You can explore the competition and read the full brief on the Buildner website.
Who We’re Looking For
The opportunity is open to current NDA students and alumni from every course. You do not need to be studying architecture or have professional experience to apply.
We’re looking for people who are enthusiastic about the challenge, willing to share their ideas and committed to working closely with their tutor and teammates over the coming months.
Depending on the level of interest we receive, we may also support additional teams and introduce an NDA competition, creating further opportunities for our students and alumni to get involved.
Register Your Interest
To apply, select the Register Your Interest button below and complete the form before the 11th October 2026
As part of the form, we’ll ask you to explain why you would like to take part in the Valli Wine Tasting Room competition. You might want to tell us what interests you about the brief, the skills you would like to develop or what you feel you could bring to the team.
We’ll use these responses to select the members of our initial team, so tell us what makes this opportunity right for you.
Note: Applications received after 9 October may not be considered.
Terms and Conditions
This opportunity is open to current National Design Academy students and alumni aged 18 or over.
Applications must be submitted through the form by 11:59pm (UK time) on Sunday 11th October 2026. Applications received after this deadline may not be considered.
The NDA intends to select a main team of four. Selection will be based on the information provided in each application, relevant skills and availability. Applying does not guarantee a place.
Successful applicants will be contacted by Friday 23 October 2026 using the email address provided.
If the NDA receives a high number of applications, we may look to form additional teams. This could include an internal competition between the teams.
The main team will be mentored by tutor Stephen Matthewman-Knowles, with other tutors from the NDA also involved throughout the process.
Team members will be expected to work collaboratively to develop a finished proposal ready for Buildner’s submission deadline of 15 February 2027.
The NDA will pay the competition registration fees for the team or teams it enters. Participants will not be expected to pay to take part.
If a team wins a cash prize, the prize money will be shared solely among its members. The NDA and its tutors will not receive a share.
All entries must follow Buildner’s competition rules. Any work shared as part of an application must be your own, or you must have permission to share it.
The NDA will use the information provided to review applications and contact applicants about this opportunity, in line with our Privacy Policy.
