Submitted by WA Contents MVRDV, Heatherwick and Mecanoo among finalists to design a new world wonder for climate action Netherlands Architecture News - May 19, 2025 - 04:22   html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "; The five finalist teams moving on to Stage Two of Shift's international architecture competition were revealed today by the steward-owned social company, which is committed to sparking huge climate action. Global architecture firms MVRDV, Heatherwick Studio and Mecanoo, Office for Political Innovation, and Ecosistema Urbano are among the finalists in Shift's international architecture competition. The Shift International Architecture Competition, which was introduced in January with a €250,000 prize pool, aims to create a landmark that will become a "new world wonder"—one whose architecture and visitor experience encourage strong emotional bonds and motivate significant behavioral change in response to the climate crisis.Image © Mecanoo, collage, courtesy of Shift CompetitionAccording to Shift, the landmark should aim to create the next wave of environmentally friendly architecture. Shift has created a permanent program that will promote and foster sustainable practices in this new area. Through immersive experiences, it will showcase the real-life tales of advocates for sustainability and climate change.DVDL, an agency based in New York, is in charge of the competition. Eighty teams submitted proposals after teams from 50 countries downloaded the brief. A varied panel of eleven experts in the fields of architecture, sustainability, biodiversity, culture, and impact investment chose three of the five finalists. After considering a variety of viewpoints, the jury decided to advance the following three teams to the competition's second round: MVRDV, Heatherwick and Mecanoo, Office for Political Innovation, and Ecosistema Urbano. Image © Heatherwick Studio, collage, courtesy of Shift CompetitionBefore the final jury presentation, each team—including the two pre-selected ones—will get €40,000 to broaden their idea. The winning idea will receive an extra €50,000 and serve as the basis for the first Shift Landmark, which will be constructed in the Netherlands."Architecture today must do more than solve problems—it must spark imagination, shift behavior, and foster new forms of community. The five selected proposals each do this in their own way. They challenge conventions, embrace complexity, and show how design can become a catalyst for systemic change. This is the kind of thinking our future demands," said Ben van Berkel, architect and a jury member. Carice van Houten, actor, and environmental advocate and a jury member, added: "Real change doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in community. What excites me about these finalist designs is that they go beyond sustainability checklists. They invite people in and create space for connection, reflection, and shared responsibility. We need places like that—places that bring people together and remind us what we’re fighting for."Image © Office for Political Innovation, collage, courtesy of Shift CompetitionShift founder Don Ritzen remarked: "The finalist teams show what’s possible when design meets purpose. Each concept has the potential to spark millions of 'satori moments'—personal awakenings that fuel real-world change."In the competition's second phase, the teams will proceed and begin honing their designs. Moving people from passive awareness to active participation in addressing the climate issue is the goal of Shift's historic effort. With emotional storytelling, immersive experiences, and community involvement, Shift hopes to set off a social tipping point when sustainable living becomes the new standard.Image © Ecosistema Urbano, collage, courtesy of Shift CompetitionShift Competition Jury Members included Aric Chen, Director, Nieuwe Instituut, Astrid Leyssens, Founder, We Are Impact Collective, Ben van Berkel, Founder, UNS, Carice van Houten, Activist, Actress, Clemens Brenninkmeijer, Head of Sustainability, Redevco, Dr. Lewis Akenji, Executive Director, Hot or Cool Institute, Géke Roelink, Director, NEMO Science Museum, Lodewijk Hoekstra, Ambassador and Presenter, Matthias Schuler, Founder, TRANSSOLAR, Mireia Luzárraga, Co-Founder, TAKK and Nicole Maarsen, Real Estate Investor and Trusted Advisor.The top image in the article: MVRDV, collage, courtesy of Shift Competition. > via Shift Competition  #mvrdv #heatherwick #mecanoo #among #finalists