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This exclusive video published by Dezeen reveals the launch of a new global architecture competition to reimagine affordable housing, hosted by construction-scale 3D-printing company ICON.

The competition is called Initiative 99 and invites architects and designers to submit home designs that can be built for under $99,000 (USD).

Initiative 99 has a $1 million total prize purse and is open to all countries. Firms, individuals, and university students are all encouraged to participate.

The company has committed to building a selection of the winning designs in locations to be announced in the future.

ICON 3D-printed home — ICON has launched a global architecture competition reimagining affordable housing

More than 1.2 billion people across the planet lack adequate shelter, according to ICON, which invites designers and architects to leverage robotic construction techniques in tackling this issue with their home designs.

By employing ICON’s 3D-printing technology, submissions can depart from more traditional flat walls in order to create “entirely new types of homes”.

The multi-phase, year-long competition enlists the help of a judging panel of architectural practitioners, academic leaders and policy makers.

Among the panelists are Shajay Bhooshan, associate director at Zaha Hadid Architects.

Entry for the Initiative 99 competition is now open

ICON is headquartered in Austin, Texas, where it is currently building a neighbourhood of 100 3D-printed homes, designed by Danish architecture studio BIG.

In 2022, NASA awarded ICON a $57 million contract to develop roads, launchpads and homes on the moon.

Submissions for the Initiative 99 competition are now open. To read more about Initiative 99, visit its website.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for ICON as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

Read more: 3D-printed houses | Bjarke Ingels | Architecture and design competitions | ICON | Promotions

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Spotted: Malaria is a leading cause of illness and death and puts huge pressure on strained health systems – in some countries with a high malaria burden, it can account for up to 40 per cent of public health expenditure. One of the organisations working to fight malaria is Landcent Group, which has developed a novel programme to identify new insecticides.

Landcent’s Active Ingredient Discovery Platform investigates natural and indigenous knowledge bases to identify active ingredients for development into biopesticides. Using this platform, the company has screened more than 200,000 natural compounds in just two years.

Already, the company has developed new bio-insecticides that it has incorporated into the yarn used to make mosquito nets; a chewable format for malaria prophylaxis, which is easier for children to take; and a micro-encapsulation technique for anti-malarial sprays. Landcent is also developing new, non-toxic vector controls, including those made using bacteria.

Since its founding in 2011, Landcent has secured more than €10.21 million in funding, including grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and investments from Shan Xiangshuang, of Hone Capital — one of Silicon Valley’s biggest funds.

In 2021, malaria caused an estimated 247 million clinical episodes, and 619,000 deaths. Innovators have responded with various advances. In the archive, Springwise has spotted the use of a smartphone to diagnose the disease and drones that map mosquito breeding grounds.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

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ICON launches global architecture competition addressing housing crisis

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