An architectural design competition is a special type of competition in which an organization or government body that plans to build a new (often public) building asks for architects to enter differing designs for the building. The winning design is usually chosen by a panel of non-competing architects and government and local representatives.

This method generally results in much more interesting buildings, as compared to what would be designed by a government-appointed draftsperson or similar.

Buildings designed by competition

Australia

• Flinders Street Station, Melbourne - J. W. Fawcett and H. P. C. Ashworth
• The city of Canberra - Walter Burley Griffin
• The Sydney Opera House, Sydney _ Jørn Utzon
• Federation Square, Melbourne - Don Bates and Peter Davidson of Lab Architecture Studio