“We believe it is relevant for the hospitality sector, a global industry dedicated to giving succour to strangers, to consider how they can help displaced people re-build their lives."

The topic for the current edition of Kindling is Sanctuary and the contribution of thoughtful hospitality design in helping to create this. At the heart of our theme, lies the experience of people who, for whatever reason, social, political, personal or environmental, have become displaced from their homeland and the communities they knew.

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Students studying architecture and design at leading colleges across Europe will be invited to submit schemes designed to welcome, nurture and help break down barriers, as well as cater for the practical needs of those who are dislocated. Buildings and interior spaces that provide a sense of home, a sense of belonging and a sense of security. Once again, colleges will be encouraged to include the competition in a module so that appreciation of the core values of hospitality may be deepened and the resulting designs benefit from the creative vision and details that flow from this understanding.

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We are delighted to have the support of the Refugee Council and its Ambassador, Elsa Hefes, who together are guiding us in our understanding of the challenges faced by displaced people. In addition, we are in discussion to extend our student competition into social initiative with hotels, restaurants, architectural firms and interior design practices providing work experience opportunities for displaced people.

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The competition will launch in September 2025 and run through the year with judging taking place in autumn 2026. Once again, we are planning to bring the winners to London on an all-expenses paid trip and to receive their trophies at Europe’s most glamorous celebration of hospitality design, the AHEAD Awards in November.​

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