The popular “New Perspective on” architecture competition is launching again ahead of Nordbygg 2026. This time, glass takes center stage, and for the first time, material reuse is an explicit requirement.
April 24, 2025
“We hope the competition will demonstrate how sustainable thinking can enhance creativity rather than limit it,” says Melinda Lemke, project manager at the Swedish Glass Industry Association.
Ahead of Nordbygg 2026, the well-regarded “New Perspective on” architecture competition is launching once again. The competition is a collaboration between Nordbygg and several of the industry’s leading organizations, with support from Swedish Architects. The featured material for 2026 is glass, and the Swedish Glass Industry Association is therefore taking on the role of lead partner.
Creating a meeting space
The competition is open to architecture students at Swedish universities and colleges. The task is to create a meeting space with a stage that showcases glass’s potential aesthetically and practically, as well as in reuse and circular design.
The winning entry will be built in the entrance square at Stockholm International Fairs during Nordbygg, April 21-24, 2026. The winning submission team will receive 50,000 kronor as well as an educational and inspiring study trip within Sweden together with the Swedish Glass Industry Association.
“Our fantastic sponsors—Osby Glas, Sapa, and Ryds Glas—will help the winners design a functional, demountable, and recyclable meeting space. The goal of our and our sponsors’ involvement is to increase knowledge about glass as a building material and demonstrate creative and sustainable ways to use reclaimed glass,” explains Melinda Lemke, project manager at the Swedish Glass Industry Association.
Reuse takes center stage
This is the first year that reuse is an explicit requirement, which is manifested in part through a brand-new partnership with CCBuild, whose app showing the availability of reclaimed building materials will also be used.
“Through this partnership, we’re showing that solutions already exist to make use of materials that would otherwise risk being lost,” says Melinda Lemke.
She hopes the competition will show that sustainability doesn’t hinder creativity but rather enhances it:
“The hope is that more people will be inspired to follow suit, and that it becomes clear that reuse is not only possible but also necessary—regardless of the material.”
Entry into the industry
“New Perspective on” has been a popular part of Nordbygg for nearly two decades. As part of the project, special material days are organized at several of the country’s architecture schools. The purpose is to deepen knowledge about the materials’ properties and possibilities while providing inspiration for competition entries. The collaboration between Nordbygg, Swedish Architects, and the materials industry through the trade associations’ involvement has helped many students make their first contact with building materials such as plastic, ceramics, steel, wood, and this year, glass.
Competitions are important and established channels for architects as a profession.
“Participating in New Perspective on Glass is a great way to gain extensive knowledge both about the material and about the function of a meeting space at a trade fair, to try competing and get to present a proposal you’ve developed, and to have your project recognized,” says Tove Dumon Wallsten, project manager at Swedish Architects.
Tove has been the project manager for “New Perspective on” for several years and has seen several of the competition proposals in their final built form at Nordbygg. She’s impressed by the students’ ability to go from idea to built work and the knowledge they acquire in the process.
Major exposure
”New Perspective on” always has a place of honor in the entrance hall during Nordbygg. The proposal must function as a hub for seminars and meetings during the fair.
“It’s also a wonderful eye-catcher for our approximately 40,000 visitors, something that further reinforces and emphasizes Nordbygg’s strong connection with both the design world and the materials industry,” says Lina Hann, project manager at Nordbygg.
The jury for New Perspective on Glass consists of:
Lina Hann, project manager, Stockholmsmässan/Nordbygg
Melinda Lemke, project manager, Swedish Glass Industry Association
Fredrik Hall Johansson, glass expert, Glass Centre in Sweden AB, appointed by the Swedish Glass Industry Association
Jonas Eriksson, Ryds Glas, appointed by the Swedish Glass Industry Association
Kalle Dinell, architect SAR/MSA, appointed by Swedish Architects’ Competition Committee
The working group also includes Tove Dumon Wallsten, Swedish Architects, as the jury’s secretary, and Liv Ljungqvist, Stockholmsmässan, as competition official.
