The Rwanda Chapel brief focuses on a small plot of land owned by the Poor Clare, which stands on a plateau in the hilly region. The nuns, who have been working in the area since 1981, are seeking a chapel to serve a congregation of 100, which is to be located near their monastery a few miles off the beaten track from Rukomo.


There are few restrictions on the design, which needs to have the fixings of a chapel – a presbytery, altar and classroom. It should be envisioned “without glitz or excesses” but may include details such as a bell tower or porch that extends out to connect with the forested hills that sprawl out from the site.    “The new building will have to qualify as a sanctuary in nature, reference for the local community and pilgrimage destination,” states the competition brief.
“The church will not be exhausted in the design of the interior or the exterior shell, but must be able to extend to the surrounding area, to allow adequate use of the building in its ownambition of monument and architectural phenomenon of reference for the territory.” Organised by Young Architects Competitions, one final requirement is that at least one member of participating teams should be under 35.

Submissions will be accepted until 5 June and a winner will be announced on 10 July 2019.

The winner will be selected by a jury made up of architects Eduardo Souto de Moura, Peter Eisenman, Tatiana Bilbao, Sean Godsell, Jean Paul Uzabakiriho, Sol Madridejos, Simon Frommenwiler, Andrea Boeri and Domus editor in chief Walter Mariotti.    There is a top prize of €8,000, with runners-up prizes of €4,000 for second place, €2,000 for third and two honourable mentions receiving a token of €500. The winner, runners-up and finalists will have their projects published on the Young Architects Competitions website.