Gingerbread Design Competition

We are thrilled to announce the 13th annual Gingerbread Design Competition & Exhibition! This year's competition theme is Boston Neighborhoods: Holiday in the Hub. This theme invites participants to showcase their appreciation and connection to Boston's 24 vibrant neighborhoods, plus those cities and towns from Amesbury to Nantucket and out to Worcester. Consider more than just the biggest icons, we want to see what you love most about living and working in this region.

Who: Any individual, duo, or team can participate! This program is open to the public. Regular registration closed, but we will add any late contribution to the exhibition until Monday, December 2 @ 5PM. Sign up today!

What: This competition is a fun way to get creative with how you think about architecture, and all proceeds go to the BSA Foundation to support programming that connects the profession to our communities with an emphasis on sustainability and equity.

Where: The gingerbread models will be on display in Waterfront Square (290 Congress Street lobby) from November 27 to December 12, and we will showcase all submissions in an online exhibition.

All gingerbread submissions will be featured on the BSA's social media platforms. We invite teams and individuals who submit entries –along with the general public– to come to the BSA on December 11 for festivities at the exhibition Awards Reception, where winners will be announced.

Important Dates

Mon, October 28 | Signup opens at 7 AM

Thu, November 21 | Regular signup closes at 11:59PM

Fri, November 22 | Project drop-offs at BSA. Deadline to submit all additional materials and information*

Wed, November 27 | Exhibition launches, featuring all submissions, both online and at BSA Space. Projects will remain on display at Waterfront Square until noon on 12/12.

View the online exhibition now!

Wed, December 11 | Reception at BSA Space in evening, following BSA/AIA Annual Meeting. Voting ends at 6PM, awards to be announced during the reception.

Thu, December 12 | Exhibition closes at noon. Teams must pick up their projects from the BSA before 4PM

*Additional materials include information like who your team members are, the final title of your project, and some details on the idea behind your gingerbread creation.

Additional Information

How do I participate?

Register your gingerbread by filling out this form that includes information we need about your project and schedule a time to bring your project to the BSA (business days through Monday, December 2).

Awards

Awards will be given based on the following categories:

• Golden Whisk for highest amount of money raised through donation-based voting
• Silver Spatula for receiving the most individual votes through donation-based voting
• People's Choice Award for most engagement on the BSA's Instagram posts (@bsaaia)

Competition and Submission Rules

• To be eligible for the competition, you or a representative of your team must complete the sign-up form with information about your team and gingerbread. Note: this form is now closed for the 2024 competition.

• By registering for this year's competition, you agree and understand that your team is responsible for bringing your completed gingerbread creation to the BSA before the designated time.

• Entries must be constructed on a piece of ¾” plywood covered in tinfoil, and the finished entry must be no larger than 18”x18”x18”.

• All visible elements on your project must be edible (with the exception of LED lights, which are accepted and encouraged).

• Please do your best to ensure that your creation is as stable and durable as possible. During the exhibition setup, your project will have to be moved by BSA Staff, and they will be on display until December 12, so they should be created to last!

• Voting begins on November 27, 2024 when the exhibition opens. Everyone is encouraged to vote, both with their dollars and with online engagement (likes, comments, shares).

  • “Online engagement” is tallied votes on the BSA’s Instagram (@bsaaia), and includes likes, comments, and shares for that project’s featured post!

• Please remember that this is a family-friendly competition! The BSA reserves the right to not display any entry considered to be inappropriate.

Tips & Tricks for Creating Your Gingerbread

Helpful links and inspiration:

• The Do's and Don'ts of Modern Gingerbread House Design

• 11 Borderline Genius Tips For Making A Gingerbread House

• The Best Candies for Decorating Gingerbread Houses

• Claire Saffitz Attempts To Make Greatest Gingerbread House | Dessert Person

• Gingerbread Showdown: Priya and Seth Vs. Sohla and Ham | NYT Cooking

• Recipe ideas:

  • Gingerbread Houses

  • Gingerbread House Icing

Tips:

• A strong idea is key.

• Craftsmanship can make or break the overall look of a project.

• Make sure everything has cured and nothing is wet/unstable.

• Remember your gingerbread creation will be on display for several weeks. Make sure everything is secure and has proper weight distribution to prevent toppling!

A special tip from the BSA team:
To make “glass” windows or lakes out of sugar, heat the sugar to 300℉ before removing it from the heat. The candy must reach 300℉, or it won’t set properly (will stay sticky no matter how long it sits and cools).

Still have questions?

For any additional questions you may have about this year's Gingerbread Design Competition & Exhibition, please email [email protected].

We look forward to seeing your neighborhood creations!

The Gingerbread Design Competition & Exhibition, a program of the BSA Foundation, was launched by the Community Design Resource Center in 2012.

The BSA Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization established by the Boston Society for Architecture to connect our profession to our community. We believe architecture is for everyone and at the core of this belief is creating equitable ways of designing, collaborating, building, and living. We seek to inspire a shared vision and provoke change that improves the lives of Boston-area residents through programming and projects that result in progress you can see in and around Boston.

All proceeds from Gingerbread benefit the BSA Foundation, spreading holiday cheer and an appreciation of architecture through the community's sweet tooth. Designers of all ages and backgrounds are invited to participate in the Gingerbread festivities and challenge their own ideas of architecture.