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Are you the next John Vanbrugh?

Are you the next John Vanbrugh?

Our design competition inspiring
the next generation of architects

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Reimagining Blenheim Palace for a new era

We are marking 300 years since the death of John Vanbrugh with a design challenge that invites young creatives to reimagine how Blenheim Palace might look if it were designed today. Launched in celebration of our new exhibition, Blueprints of Power, the competition offers a selection of prizes, including the chance to sign a slate for the Palace roof that will remain for generations to come.

Entrants are invited to participate in one of the three categories below:

  • Budding architects (under 12s) must draw a picture of Blenheim Palace
  • Aspiring architects (ages 12 to 17) create a moodboard showing what feature/s could be added if the Palace was designed today
  • Rising architects (18+ studying a degree or equivalent in architecture, construction, creative or design-related subjects) submit an interpretation of what they believe the Palace would look like if it were designed today

 

 

What you could win

Winners will be announced Monday 23rd March and will receive:

  • Exclusive invite to the topping out ceremony 31st March (restoration milestone)

  • Once-in-a-lifetime chance to sign a roof slate, reinstalled on the Palace roof, meaning your name remains in situ at Britain’s Greatest Palace for generations

  • Exclusive talk and tour with Kelly O’Driscoll, Head of Built Heritage, Blenheim Palace (18+ category)

  • Signed copy of Living Buildings: Architectural Conservation, Philosophy, Principles and Practice, Sir Donald Insall (18+ category)

  • An Annual Pass and Afternoon Tea for two at Blenheim Palace 


How to Enter

To enter, participants must submit their response to the brief in their category via a PDF visual A4 design to blenheim@cabcampaign.co.uk by Wednesday 18th March.

Entries will be judged by an esteemed panel including Sir Charles Saumarez Smith CBE, author, curator and architectural historian, Kelly O'Driscoll, Head of Built Heritage at Blenheim Palace and Donald Insall Associates Practice Director Edward Lewis, leading the restoration project at Blenheim Palace.

*Please see our T&Cs here.

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