Linha doHorizonte
The first international architecture competition
for the future of Cape Verde.
Why Cape Verde
A territory between
memory and future.
At the crossroads of Africa, Europe and the Atlantic, Cape Verde is far more than an archipelago. It is a territory shaped by encounters, migrations and cultural exchanges that have left deep traces in the landscape, the cities and the people, creating a layered identity where memory and transformation constantly coexist.
The ARCH CHALLENGE architecture competition draws its inspiration from this unique setting — a place where bold ideas for the future can take root in a rich, living history.
Today, facing the challenges of our time, climate, resources, growth and identity, Cape Verde stands as a unique laboratory for imagining new ways of living and building, rooted in context and open to the future.
For ARCH CHALLENGE, this territory becomes a field of architectural research, where real places, real constraints and real opportunities can generate ideas capable of connecting local culture with a broader contemporary vision.
An archipelago shaped by the ocean, a meeting point of cultures, exchanges and perspectives.
Volcanic landscapes, exposed coastlines, arid valleys. The memory of a territory built through migration, adaptation and resilience.
An authentic and evolving context, where architecture can generate value through culture, climate and community.
Challenge 01
Linha doHorizonte
Linha do Horizonte is an international architecture competition set in Cidade Velha, on the Atlantic coast of Cape Verde. It invites architects, designers, students and multidisciplinary teams to explore the relationship between landscape, memory and contemporary living, imagining a residential complex that belongs to the territory before occupying it.
Seven voices.
One standard.
An international panel of architects, academics and cultural figures, selected for their rigour, their vision and their connection to the territory.
Who Can Participate
Professionals.
Students.
Teams.No Age Limit.
ARCH CHALLENGE is open to architects, engineers, designers, students and multidisciplinary teams.
Participation is not defined by age, background or generation, but by the ability to propose a conscious architectural vision — rooted in territory, open to the future and capable of interpreting contemporary challenges with clarity, sensitivity and ambition.
Join the Challenge →AI & Architecture
AI Is A Tool.Not The Project.
Artificial intelligence may be used as part of the design process, supporting research, representation, scenario building and the exploration of architectural possibilities.
Its role is not to replace critical thinking, cultural awareness or spatial intelligence. The value of each proposal remains tied to the authors' ability to transform tools, ideas and context into a coherent architectural vision.
Read the AI Guidelines →
Promoted By
MGM Cape Verde
MGM Cape Verde is the private investment group behind ARCH CHALLENGE. The platform opens real development sites across Cape Verde to the international architecture community, transforming future projects into opportunities for research, design and cultural exchange.
MGM Cape Verde operates as an integrated real estate and development platform, bringing together investment, hospitality, governance and long-term territorial strategy. Its vision goes beyond individual projects, supporting a broader transformation process where quality development, responsible investment and architectural culture can contribute to the future image, economy and international positioning of Cape Verde.
Visit MGM Cape Verde →Open To Strategic Partners
Believe in Us.
Partner with Us.
ARCH CHALLENGE welcomes institutions, universities, media partners, cultural organizations and companies interested in supporting a new international architecture platform rooted in Cape Verde.
Partnerships are built around shared goals, cultural value and long-term impact.
They can support visibility, technical expertise, research, education, communication, exhibitions, publications or future competition programs. More than sponsorship, ARCH CHALLENGE seeks partners who believe in architecture as a tool for cultural dialogue, responsible development and future-oriented territorial vision.
degli Studi
Partner
Join the Challenge
Your Vision
Starts Here.
Join this international architecture competition, design your horizon and become part of a new architectural vision shaped by territory, culture and future. Linha do Horizonte is an invitation to imagine architecture not as an isolated object, but as a response to place, landscape and the unique possibilities of Cape Verde.
Discover the Challenge →