Housing issues in Europe and Slovenia are becoming increasingly complex. The lack of affordable housing, high construction costs, lengthy spatial planning procedures and restrictions imposed by spatial legislation often lead to the repetition of the same solutions, which rarely bring about long-term change. Discussions on solving the housing crisis usually revolve around financing, regulation, and spatial planning, and much less frequently around the process of designing housing solutions itself.
In recent years, architectural and development competitions have emerged as an interesting alternative, as they have been shown to encourage innovative thinking and open up space for different approaches to housing design. Such competitions allow several different teams to respond to the same starting point, which leads to higher-quality solutions and a wider range of ideas than would be obtained within established market frameworks.
One of the key advantages of competitions is that they separate the creative process from short-term market pressures. Architects, urban planners, and engineers have the opportunity to think more holistically—about construction costs, material use, energy efficiency, and the long-term usability of space. In Europe, more and more competitions are focusing on accessible housing that is not only affordable to move into, but also energy efficient and cost-effective to maintain. The European Union has set a target of 20% of new housing being energy efficient by 2020. In Europe, an increasing number of competitions are focusing on affordable housing that is not only affordable to move into, but also energy efficient and cost effective throughout its entire life cycle.
This approach also strengthens public confidence. Transparent competition procedures enable greater involvement of professionals and local communities and increase the likelihood that projects will more easily obtain approvals and permits. For investors and municipalities, this means less risk in later stages of development.
Modern housing development increasingly goes beyond the mere question of price per square meter. The focus is shifting towards understanding housing as a long-term cost that includes investment in construction, financing, maintenance, energy, and access to the long-term value of the property.
Competitions often encourage thinking in this direction. Instead of maximizing space, they seek smart floor plan solutions, material optimization, prefabricated systems, and designs that enable lower operating costs. Such projects are particularly relevant for Europe, where energy standards and sustainability are becoming key factors in property valuation.
Although architectural competitions are not new in Slovenia, their role in solving housing problems is still underutilized. At a time when we are facing a shortage of housing in urban centers and, at the same time, limited spatial possibilities, such processes could contribute to more thoughtful development.
For the real estate market, this represents an opportunity for the creation of projects that are not only commercially attractive, but also sustainable in the long term. A high-quality design, adapted to the real needs of residents, has a direct impact on the stability of property values and their attractiveness to buyers or tenants.
The housing market of the future will require more than just repeating tried-and-tested models. New approaches, greater cooperation between the public and private sectors, and more room for innovation will be needed. Architectural and development competitions demonstrate that they can open the door to different ways of thinking – ones that combine quality of life, cost efficiency, and long-term property value.
Understanding these processes is important for investors, buyers, and property managers alike, as it is often in the design phase that the differences between average and above-average projects emerge.
For more information or a consultation, please visit our website or contact us at +386 40 626 131 or tajnistvo@bazarealestate.com.
