How can affordable housing be designed so that it truly meets the needs of cities and municipalities? This very question was addressed by the third edition of the student competition Construction Hackathon, organized by the National Centre for Construction 4.0, which took place on 25–27 March 2026 as part of the Architecture Festival at the Brno Exhibition Centre. Over the course of an intensive 48 hours, six university teams worked on proposals for affordable housing on specific sites provided by six municipalities in the South Moravian Region. As a result, six designs were created for the towns and villages of Kuřim, Ostrov u Macochy, Rosice, Veselí nad Moravou, Znojmo, and Želetice u Kyjova.
“The topic of affordable housing in connection with digitalization confirms that the future of the construction industry lies in the smart use of data, effective collaboration, and the ability to design feasible solutions. The students demonstrated that they can think comprehensively, from urban planning to project economics,” said Prof. Radoslav Sovják, Director of the National Centre for Construction 4.0.
The students presented their proposals to an expert jury composed of representatives from academia, public administration, and the private sector. They addressed not only the architectural design of buildings, but also economic feasibility, energy concepts, and the overall sustainability of each project. The proposals were developed using digital models, BIM, and data-driven design, with real-world feasibility forming a key part of the brief. Students from six universities participated in the competition: the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (Faculty of Applied Sciences), Brno University of Technology (Faculty of Civil Engineering), the Czech Technical University in Prague (Faculty of Civil Engineering), Mendel University in Brno (Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology), VSB – Technical University of Ostrava (Faculty of Civil Engineering), and the Technical University of Košice (Faculty of Civil Engineering).
The winner of the third edition of the Construction Hackathon was the team from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Brno University of Technology, scoring 56 out of a possible 60 points. The team was mentored by KOMA Modular.
Teams worked under the guidance of mentors from partner companies, which this year included Wienerberger, KOMA Modular, Progress Group, STRABAG, PKV, Central Group, and SOK stavební s.r.o. Each team worked on a different site and prepared a proposal for affordable housing in a specific location. The event was also supported by the RICAIP centre, which focuses, among other things, on the societal impacts of new technologies in the search for innovative solutions in urbanism and sustainable urban development.
“We were pleased to collaborate with future construction designers, urban planners, and architects within the Construction Hackathon, where real projects from South Moravian municipalities were addressed—projects for which we provide consultancy through the Obec ON initiative. The Construction Fair is also an excellent opportunity for us to connect these projects with suppliers of modular housing, because quality and affordable housing requires the synergy of many good ideas, and that is exactly what enriches all those involved in this collaboration,” said Daniel Ryšávka, Director of the State Investment Support Fund.
The competition brings the hackathon format into the construction industry—a fast-paced collaboration between students, industry experts, and the public sector working on real assignments. Thanks to the support of the general partner, the State Investment Support Fund (SFPI), and the Obec ON initiative, students once again worked on real locations for which municipalities are seeking new housing development opportunities. Each location represents a different type of situation that local governments are currently facing. Some towns are responding to the growth of a regional centre—for example, Kuřim and Rosice are part of the dynamically developing hinterland of Brno, where housing demand is rapidly increasing and municipalities are seeking ways to ensure affordable housing for their residents.
Other towns are dealing with different development dynamics. In Veselí nad Moravou, new economic opportunities are emerging, attracting a workforce and increasing the need for quality housing for both new and existing residents. Znojmo, as an important regional centre, is looking for ways to strengthen its attractiveness for the working-age population and retain young people and professionals.
Smaller municipalities face specific challenges. In Želetice u Kyjova and Ostrov u Macochy, the construction of new housing is often one of the key tools to prevent the gradual outflow of young families and to maintain the long-term vitality of the local community.
The Construction Hackathon is part of the long-term activities of the National Centre for Construction 4.0 aimed at supporting digitalization, innovation, and education in the construction sector. The centre systematically promotes the field among the younger generation, organizes expert presentations for secondary school and university students, and initiated the educational programme Construction Literacy (StaGram), which introduces construction to primary school pupils and grammar school students.
