This year, participants in the “Design Your Own Eco House!” competition, now organised for the sixth time for secondary school students, were tasked with designing a guesthouse featuring five double rooms. The design task encouraged the use of diverse materials and technologies, while emphasising the development of a flexible, modular concept that allows for future expansion. For the competing students studying architectural engineering, a particular challenge lay in creating an environmentally conscious, sustainably operated living space that can be flexibly adapted.

The best teams in the three-round competition will present their concepts to the jury in the final on 31 March in Pécs. Prior to the event, finalists will also have the opportunity to visit an eco-house in person and learn about the experiences of its residents. The competition is managed by the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology of the University of Pécs (UP FEIT), in collaboration with its strategic partner, the Baranya County Vocational Training Centre Pollack Mihály Technical School and Dormitory. In the 2024/2025 academic year, the initiative was recognised by the European EUTeens4Green programme as an innovative project promoting sustainability.

As in previous years, the call attracted a high number of submissions of outstanding quality, reflecting the growing commitment of participating schools. In recent years, it has also become increasingly common for students to return to the competition, motivated by a strong interest in the field. In the final round, the top three-member teams will compete, presenting their projects to the jury and fellow contestants using physical models and presentation boards. The three best teams will be awarded gift vouchers totaling HUF 300,000. The award ceremony will take place on the morning of 1 April, following the final. For the 2025/2026 edition, 24 teams from seven schools entered the competition, of which 5–7 teams will advance to the final.

Eco houses are characterised by the use of environmentally responsible construction processes, incorporating recycled or recyclable materials and technologies that ensure energy-efficient and sustainable operation. The competition aims to provide students with insights into how modern technologies can support eco-conscious building design today, while also highlighting historical approaches in which buildings relied on natural materials that could return to nature at the end of their lifecycle without environmental damage after use.

This year’s event will also feature a special professional demonstration. The Department of Civil Engineering of the Institute of Smart Technology and Engineering, UP FEIT, operates a 3D concrete printing laboratory in cooperation with Turbo Tech Hungary Ltd. (Szeged). In addition to concrete printing, the lab conducts experiments with other materials, including research into the 3D printing of traditional adobe. Following the award ceremony, lecturers from the Faculty and experts from the partner company will present a live demonstration of 3D adobe printing to the finalist teams.

The programme will continue with a short interactive session, during which students can experience traditional methods firsthand by mixing adobe and forming bricks. This demonstration offers a unique perspective by bridging advanced construction technologies with centuries-old manual techniques, enabling participants to gain insights into both the heritage and the future of the construction industry.