The "Handrail on a Cliff" competition was conceived with the aim of reimagining an architectural element—the handrail—by exploring its functional and expressive value. It is not merely a physical support but a feature capable of mediating between protection and freedom, between stability and openness to the surrounding context. In this competition, participants are invited to reflect on the meaning of an everyday object that is often taken for granted. A handrail can serve as both a barrier and a point of connection, a tangible sign that interacts with the landscape and those who use it. Set on a cliffside, in a location of striking natural impact, the competition poses a fundamental question: how can safety be reconciled with integration into the environment? The handrail thus becomes a design opportunity to express our relationship with space, movement, and the sense of protection in a constantly evolving world.

Competition

We invite you to participate in the "Handrail on a Cliff" competition, set in an extraordi - nary environment: The Black Angel Cliff, located in Greenland above the waters of the Uummannaq Fjord. This 1,200-meter rock face has been a historical landmark for the Inuit and today stands as a symbol of isolation and the raw power of nature. Its impos - ing formation and extreme climate make it a site of direct confrontation between humans and the environment. In this setting, where the landscape is as captivating as it is unforgiving, the design of the handrail takes on a profound meaning. More than just a support, it becomes a sign that balances protection, freedom, and control. It must meet safety requirements with - out becoming an invasive barrier—serving as a guiding element while leaving room for interaction with the environment. Participants are challenged to rethink the handrail in relation to form, function, and context, exploring materials and innovative solutions capable of withstanding extreme climatic conditions while allowing unrestricted creativity. The competition encourages a conceptual approach, open to multiple interpretations: the handrail can be a functional device or a symbolic element, representing the bound - ary between safety and risk, between guidance and autonomy. There are no stylistic or technological constraints, offering participants the freedom to experiment and propose original visions. The goal is to transform the handrail into an element that expresses our relationship with space and safety, without reducing it to a mere technical accessory. Each proposal will be an opportunity to explore new perspectives on the concepts of protection and control in an extreme environment.

Competition Site

The Black Angel Cliff (71.128916, -51.243258) rises 1,200 meters above the Uummannaq Fjord in Greenland. A remote and inhospitable place, where Danish miners in the 1970s braved the freezing cold and sheer verticality, suspended on fragile cableways. We have chosen this cliff as the setting for the competition, but without technical constraints: the goal is to freely explore the concept of the handrail, not only as a physical element but as a poetic and conceptual mark in the dialogue between humans and the extreme landscape.

A brief historical overview of the location

The Black Angel Cliff, in Greenland, rises 1,200 meters above the waters of the Uummannaq Fjord, distinguished by its dark silhouette, which gave it its name. A long-standing landmark for the Inuit, it has drawn attention for its sheer scale and isolation. In the 1920s, Danish miners began extracting marble from the area, but it wasnʼt until 1936 that a rare stone—originating from the cliff itself—was discovered on the opposite shore. To exploit this resource, a small port and a system of cableways were built in the 1970s, the only means of transporting workers and materials. However, the harsh Arctic climate made operations extremely challenging: when the wind was too strong, the cableways would stop, leaving miners stranded on the cliff with limited supplies. Today, the Black Angel Cliff remains an extreme and awe-inspiring place, serving as the inspiration for our architectural competition. Its verticality, history of hardship and adaptation, and the relationship between humans and a hostile environment call for a project that engages with the landscape while respecting its visual and narrative balance.

Registration Fees:

Early Registration (10 march - 10 april): 40 Euro

Advance Registration (11 april - 11 may): 60 Euro

Last Minute Registration (12 may - 12 june): 90 Euro

Prizes (Total Prize Pool: €5,000):

First Prize: € 1,500

Second Prize: € 1,000

Third Prize: € 500 

Jury Members:

Nicole Six and Paul Petritsch - University of Applied Arts Vienna

Loïk Eyers - Jaspers Eyers Architects 

Aleksandre Andghuladze - Head of 3XN Visual  

Gala Čaki – Artis

Branko Belacevic - Cook Belacevic Haffner Partners 

Ivane  Katamashvili - Architecture Photographer & Filmmaker

Deadlines & Timeline:

Registration Deadline: June 12, 2025   

Project Submission Deadline: June 25, 2025

Winners Announcement: July  31, 2025

To learn more details, visit the competition website.

The top image in the article courtesy of Archcontest.

> via Archcontest

architecture competition