An open international ideas contest featuring a €10,000 prize fund is seeking concepts to reimagine an ancient outdoor auditorium in Ohrid, North Macedonia (Deadline: 10 October) The UNESCO Ancient Theatre competition – organised by TerraViva Competitions – invites architects, designers, and landscape architects to draw up concepts to revitalise the ancient theatre which was unearthed in the mid-20th century and restored in 2001 but has suffered from a lack of maintenance in recent years. The call for concepts aims to identify a range of solutions that could be used to re-imagine the historic performance space which occupies a dramatic site close to Samuel’s Fortress on the city’s highest hill with views out over Lake Ohrid. Concepts must unify the site’s various surviving architectural elements and fragmented spaces to create a cohesive space – harnessing materials, textures and spatial relationships to deliver an ‘overall sense of harmony.’ Competition site: Ohrid theatre, North Macedonia Competition site: Ohrid theatre, North Macedonia According to the brief: ‘Participants are challenged to create a cohesive architectural and landscape intervention – one that harmonises the site’s rich heritage with bold contemporary design. ‘From a complete reinvention of the stage and roof to the sensitive rehabilitation of the seating area, the project calls for a unified spatial language that enhances the theatre’s cultural relevance and year-round usability. ‘Micro-architectural elements will support both daily activities and live events, ensuring the site remains an active and welcoming public space.’ Overlooking Lake Ohrid, Ohrid is a historic city of around 42,000 inhabitants. The settlement is known for once having 365 churches and is known locally as the ‘Balkan Jerusalem.’ It was designated a cultural and natural UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and 1980 respectively. Last month, TerraViva launched a contest to reimagine a typical tenement-style apartment in Milan’s Isola district. The latest competition comes two years after an open international contest was launched to upgrade the 84ha Rasаdnik city green space in Skopje, North Macedonia. The latest competition seeks proposals to transform Ohrid’s neglected ancient theatre into a new cultural and community space for both locals and seasonal visitors.  Proposals will need to rethink the theatre and stage, upgrade the surrounding landscape and introduce new ‘micro architectures’ supporting new uses of the landmark. Competition site: Ohrid theatre, North Macedonia Concepts will be judged on originality, integration with the historic landscape, creative interpretation of the programme, sensitive use of materials and colours, landscape design solutions and graphic representation. Submissions should include two digital A1 panels, a short written description and a visual mood board. Judges will include Tea Damjanovska of Saints Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Kyriakos Chatziparaskevas of Heatherwick Studio in London, Simona Chingoska of local Ohrid-based practice Arhrid, and Elisa Donini from the Università La Sapienza in Rome. The overall winner – to be announced on 10 November – will receive a €5,000 top prize while a second prize of €2,000 and third prize of €1,000 will also be awarded. An exhibition of the winning concepts will also be hosted in Ohrid in spring 2026. How to apply Deadline: 10 October 2025 Fee: Until 4 July: €59; from 4 July to 12 September: €79; from 12 September to 10 October: €109 Competition funding source: Terraviva Project funding source: None Owner of site: Municipality of Ohrid Contact details: info@terravivacompetitions.comVisit the competition website for more information