The Cubby House Challenge is open again for little pieces of constructed fun

Spending almost $20,000 on a cubby house may seem excessive, but these are no ordinary cubbys.

The Kids Under Cover Cubby House Challenge is back and the organisation is calling for “big thinking building teams, blue-sky architectural groups and adventurous designers” to create Australia’s best cubby house.

The winner will be chosen by a panel of designers, architects, and builders, and of course the true cubby house experts – kids. 

Entrants are encourage to “embrace their inner child” in order to raise money for charity. The playhouses are auctioned off at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, with the previous 2016 winner, “The Relic”, selling for more  $17,000.

The cubbys must meet size and safety guidelines, and the entry form cheerfully reminds the potential cubby royalty to “remember these cubby houses are for children”. They’re displayed – and open for playing – in a landscaped model village at the show which attracts around 100,000 visitors over its five days.

Kids Under Cover set up in 1989 by Ken Morgan OAM with the aim of preventing youth homelessness. The organisations has been providing self-contained studios for families since 1995, and the Cubby House challenge has been running for almost a decade.

More information on the challenge, including how to enter, can be found at the Kids Under Cover website. And for some small-architecture inspiration, check out some previous years entries below. 

“Funhouse” by Fairhaven Homes

Pl-yground by Matt Gibson Architecture and Design and Hartman Construction and Development

An entry in the 2014 Cubby House Challenge. Photo: Joe Armao

An entry in the 2014 Cubby House Challenge. Photo: Joe Armao

The Eco Cubby, another previous entry.