DesignAsia
Architect David Rockwell’s Manhattan design studio hosted its annual gingerbread house contest, where architects and designers had 90 minutes to construct imaginative gingerbread structures. This year’s creations included a Brutalist tower, a ski village, and a scene from the Paris Olympics. The event encourages creative risks and brings together professionals and their families for a festive challenge.
Each holiday season, creativity takes a delicious turn at David Rockwell’s Manhattan design studio, where architects, designers, and their families participate in an annual gingerbread house contest. This unique event transforms traditional gingerbread house building into an architectural showcase, challenging participants to push the boundaries of edible design.
This year’s contest was no exception. Over the course of just 90 minutes, teams constructed intricate and imaginative gingerbread structures, ranging from Brutalist-inspired towers to a miniature ski village. A particularly notable creation featured a reimagined scene from the upcoming Paris Olympics.
The competition encourages risk-taking and innovation, with participants combining candies, cookies, and frosting in surprising ways to create artistic representations of buildings and environments. While the medium might seem unconventional, the event demonstrates how architectural principles can shine even in playful, sugary forms.
David Rockwell himself sees the competition as a celebration of community and creativity, offering a relaxed space for professionals to share their passion with family members. It’s an opportunity to step away from rigid construction codes and embrace the whimsical possibilities of edible materials.
The annual gingerbread house contest is not only a festive tradition but also a reminder of architecture’s capacity for joy and imagination—even in the most unexpected forms.
