Wood Architecture Prize 2026: a call for timber architecture in Italy

Since 2019, Italy has hosted an award devoted entirely to timber architecture: the Wood Architecture Prize, promoted by Klimahouse, the international trade fair on sustainable building organized by Fiera Bolzano. It is the country’s first recognition created to give visibility to those who choose wood as a primary design material, uniting sustainability, aesthetics, and innovation.

Over the years, the prize has grown in stature, attracting architects, practices, companies, and clients, becoming a reference point at a time when timber is regaining a leading role in cities and landscapes. “For us the Wood Architecture Prize is not only a competition,” recalls Thomas Mur, director of Fiera Bolzano, “but a cultural investment. It was born from a courageous choice and is carried forward with passion, because we believe the future of building starts here.”

Thomas Mur, director of Fiera Bolzano

Hundreds of projects have been submitted, including some previously featured on Domus. The 2026 edition has just opened: eligible works are those completed in Italy from 2022 onwards, with timber as the central structural and compositional element. An international jury will evaluate entries not only on architectural quality, but also on environmental and social impact, with particular attention to replicable, innovative models that can respond to the climate challenge.

The process will conclude in Bolzano, during Klimahouse 2026, with the announcement of the winners and a dedicated exhibition. Meanwhile, in Venice, Palazzo Cavanis is hosting a showcase of projects from previous editions, offering a snapshot of how timber is already at the heart of a new culture of building in Italy.

To participate in the Wood Architecture Prize means joining a network of designers, companies, and institutions redefining the role of timber in contemporary architecture. It is not just a showcase, but a platform for dialogue and growth, one that has fostered exchanges between different generations and design sensibilities. “An architect does not only design buildings, but also takes responsibility for how these change the landscape and people’s lives,” noted Roland Baldi, founder of Roland Baldi Architects in Bolzano and winner of the Wood Architecture Prize 2023 with the Sluderno Nursery School. And for Federico Zarattini, Founder and partner of Studio Zarcola in Milan, winner of the Wood Architecture Prize 2025 with Casa Larun, “the real challenge is to respect the context, avoiding top-down solutions that may seem perfect on paper but fail in reality.”

Entries remain open until autumn 2025, giving architects, practices, administrations, and companies time to submit their work. Beyond national and international visibility, the winners will help shape the future of an architecture that aims to be innovative, circular, and deeply rooted in place.

Opening image: Zarcola studio, Larun House, 2024. Winner of the 2025 edition. Photo Barbara Corsico. Courtesy Klimahouse