Religion and spirituality have always been a huge driver of architectural history, its institutions being some of the clearest realizations of ideology through structure, and belief through design. Architecture practice in itself, operating over years and through dense bureaucracies, also requires its practitioners to have faith—in themselves, the market, and their clients. So as the winter holiday season rolls around, we’re asking architects to consider the role faith, and its institutions, play in their practice.

Our open call for 'Faith' is interested in both places of worship, and the ‘commandments’ that make for good rules of practice.

》PROJECT SUBMISSIONS: House of Worship

Design a structure for worshiping anything you feel demands it. Whether a new Presbyterian Church for your suburb, a Mosque for Mars, a glass orb for feminism, a bunker for the Patron Saint of Climate Change, we want to see your imaginations for a new kind of spiritual architecture. 

There is no set budget or restrictions for the house of worship: it can be experienced in reality or virtual reality, anywhere in the universe. Whether explicitly in the design or the accompanying description, the submission must make clear both what is being worshipped, and how one might go about their worship. We will also welcome submissions for designs of more typical spiritual institutions.

》EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS: Commandments

What are the basic tenets of a good architect? And how do you keep yourself sane when things get tough? Whether playing the role of practitioner, educator, researcher, builder, or student, we want to know what basic rules you’ve written for yourself—to stay focused on good work, self-improvement, and ultimately, a better built reality for all.

Share with us the 10 commandments that guide your work. Each commandment should be no more than two sentences.

The deadline for submitting is Wednesday, December 14 at 11:59 pm Pacific.

The open call is not a contest. We’ll review submissions for publication as we receive them, and feature as many as we deem worthy. Due to the volume of inquiries received, we can only respond to your submission if we decide to feature it.

For more information, and to submit, fill out this form.

Still have questions? Ask Amelia.

Check out some featured work from prior open calls below:

↑ October XXL: As the City Grows, Bridging Manila's Bay Could Ease Population Strain

↑ July Domesticity: 'Ethical Dwellings for Generation Y' explores new forms of living and owning in a changing London

↑ May Help: An alternative, smart "Homestead" for Kansas City

↑ April Sex: Tectr: Tinder for architecture?