Residential Architecture: New Houses and Design Awards — 2026-10-10

Top developments

UN-Habitat Recognizes Five Global Housing Approaches

On October 9, 2026, UN-Habitat announced the winners of its 2026 Scroll of Honour Award, recognizing five distinct approaches to adequate housing from Brazil, Myanmar, Pakistan, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom. These projects were selected for their sustainable contributions to urban development and housing solutions. The award highlights the diversity of global strategies in addressing housing crises through design and policy integration.

2026 ArchiTeam Awards Finalists Revealed in Australia

ArchitectureAu reported on October 5 that 44 projects across seven categories have been named finalists for the 2026 ArchiTeam Awards. The selection process highlights emerging practices and innovative residential designs within the Australian context. These finalists will compete for top honors in categories that span various scales of architectural practice.

Modern Living Announces Best 6 Residential Projects in Japan

On October 6, Modern Living magazine revealed the winners of the 22nd Modern Living Award "Best 6" category. These six homes were selected via reader vote from approximately 50 houses featured in the magazine’s six issues published throughout the year. This award underscores the public’s engagement with residential design trends in Japan.

AR Emerging Awards 2026 Shortlist Focuses on Local Materials

The Architectural Review announced the shortlist for the AR Emerging Awards 2026 on October 5. The selected architects are noted for experimenting with rammed earth, learning from local building types, and creating third places. This focus reflects a growing trend in residential and community architecture towards material honesty and contextual sensitivity.

Local view

Spain: In Madrid, the Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Madrid (COAM) announced the winners of the Premios COAM 2026 on October 9. The First Prize went to the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Carlos III University of Madrid. Additionally, Paris swept the two European Collective Housing Awards, with "La Métropolitaine" winning in the new construction category and a garage conversion project winning in the rehabilitation category.

Japan: The Japanese architectural media is highlighting the completion of new projects such as Jun'ya Ishigami's "House & Restaurant" in Yamaguchi, which features a concrete structure excavated from the ground to create glass-walled spaces. Meanwhile, the Architecture+Interior Week 2026 is being promoted as a key event for discussing how "sellable" and "livable" homes are changing amid labor shortages and rising costs.

Context & numbers

The 2026 Residential Design Architecture Awards (RDAA) in the US saw over 516 entries, resulting in 23 awards across 10 categories. While the winners were announced earlier in the year, the ongoing coverage in Residential Design Vol. 3 (released May 2026) continues to circulate these results.

In Spain, the Casa de la Arquitectura held its constituent board meeting on October 5, 2026, with Pritzker Prize winners David Chipperfield and Winy Maas participating, signaling a push to consolidate the institution's cultural role.

On the radar

• AR House 2026 Shortlist: Entries for the AR House 2026 awards have closed, with the shortlist scheduled to be announced on November 23, 2026.
• World Architecture Day Reflections: Following the first Monday of October (October 5, 2026), discussions around the UIA's theme "Build Better, Build Differently, and Share Resources" continue to influence residential design discourse.