Cidade Velha — Santiago, Cabo Verde

Linha doHorizonte

The first international architecture competition
for the future of Cabo Verde.

OPEN TO ALLEligibility
€ 23.000Prize Pool
6Awards
3Registration Phases
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Scorri

Why Cape Verde

A territory between
memory and future.

At the crossroads of Africa, Europe and the Atlantic, Cape Verde is far more than an archipelago. It is a territory shaped by encounters, migrations and cultural exchanges that have left deep traces in the landscape, the cities and the people, creating a layered identity where memory and transformation constantly coexist.

Today, facing the challenges of our time, climate, resources, growth and identity, Cape Verde stands as a unique laboratory for imagining new ways of living and building, rooted in context and open to the future.

For ARCH CHALLENGE, this territory becomes a field of architectural research, where real places, real constraints and real opportunities can generate ideas capable of connecting local culture with a broader contemporary vision.

Discover our Vision →
01Atlantic Identity

An archipelago shaped by the ocean, a meeting point of cultures, exchanges and perspectives.

02Landscape & Memory

Volcanic landscapes, exposed coastlines, arid valleys. The memory of a territory built through migration, adaptation and resilience.

03Contemporary Architecture

An authentic and evolving context, where architecture can generate value through culture, climate and community.

Cidade Velha — Santiago, Cabo Verde

Challenge 01

Linha doHorizonte

Linha do Horizonte is an international architecture competition set in Cidade Velha, on the Atlantic coast of Cabo Verde. It invites architects, designers, students and multidisciplinary teams to explore the relationship between landscape, memory and contemporary living, imagining a residential complex that belongs to the territory before occupying it.

LocationCidade Velha, Santiago
StatusUNESCO World Heritage Site
Registration DeadlineSeptember 30, 2026
Project SubmissionOctober 12, 2026
EligibilityOpen to All
Prize Pool€ 23.000
View Full Brief →
The Jury

Seven voices.
One standard.

An international panel of architects, academics and cultural figures, selected for their rigour, their vision and their connection to the territory.

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Coming Soon

New
territories.
New
visions.

New sites, new contexts, new architectural questions. ARCH CHALLENGE continues across Cape Verde, opening new territories for future competitions.

Stay connected for upcoming announcements, new locations and future challenges.

Salamansa — São Vicente, Cape Verde

CHALLENGE 02 — SAO VICENTE

Salamansa

Arid landscape, exposed coastline, wind and open horizon. A future competition exploring the relationship between dwelling, climate and territory.

Project TypeResidential
Competition LaunchOCT 2026
Sal Rei — Boa Vista, Cape Verde

CHALLENGE 03 — BOA VISTA

Sal Rei

An urban island between sea, density and everyday scale. A future competition on public space, coastal continuity and new forms of living.

Project TypeResidential
Competition Launch2027

Who Can Participate

Professionals.
Students.
Teams.
No Age Limit.

ARCH CHALLENGE is open to architects, engineers, designers, students and multidisciplinary teams.

Participation is not defined by age, background or generation, but by the ability to propose a conscious architectural vision — rooted in territory, open to the future and capable of interpreting contemporary challenges with clarity, sensitivity and ambition.

Join the Challenge →

AI & Architecture

AI Is A Tool.Not The Project.

Artificial intelligence may be used as part of the design process, supporting research, representation, scenario building and the exploration of architectural possibilities.

Its role is not to replace critical thinking, cultural awareness or spatial intelligence. The value of each proposal remains tied to the authors' ability to transform tools, ideas and context into a coherent architectural vision.

Read the AI Guidelines →
Cape Verde — MGM development sites
MGM Cape Verde

Promoted By

MGM Cape Verde

MGM Cape Verde is the private investment group behind ARCH CHALLENGE. The platform opens real development sites across Cape Verde to the international architecture community, transforming future projects into opportunities for research, design and cultural exchange.

MGM Cape Verde operates as an integrated real estate and development platform, bringing together investment, hospitality, governance and long-term territorial strategy. Its vision goes beyond individual projects, supporting a broader transformation process where quality development, responsible investment and architectural culture can contribute to the future image, economy and international positioning of Cape Verde.

Visit MGM Cape Verde →

Open To Strategic Partners

Believe in Us.
Partner with Us.

ARCH CHALLENGE welcomes institutions, universities, media partners, cultural organizations and companies interested in supporting a new international architecture platform rooted in Cape Verde.

Partnerships are built around shared goals, cultural value and long-term impact.

They can support visibility, technical expertise, research, education, communication, exhibitions, publications or future competition programs. More than sponsorship, ARCH CHALLENGE seeks partners who believe in architecture as a tool for cultural dialogue, responsible development and future-oriented territorial vision.

Become a Partner →
MGM Cape Verde
Università
degli Studi
Media
Partner
Cultural
Institution
Architecture
Foundation
Design
Magazine

Join the Challenge

Your Vision
Starts Here.

Join the challenge, design your horizon and become part of a new architectural vision shaped by territory, culture and future. Linha do Horizonte is an invitation to imagine architecture not as an isolated object, but as a response to place, landscape and the possibilities of Cape Verde.

Discover the Challenge →