It’s known for having some of the most unique accommodation in the world, and now Airbnb is rewarding its craziest listings with the Airbnb OMG! fund.

Airbnb is on the hunt for the world’s craziest spaces. Whether they dream up a boot, a UFO house or a treehouse, 100 people with the craziest ideas will receive US$100,000 to make their creations come alive.

Designers, architects and DIYers around the world

Whether you’re a designer, an architect or just think you may have an amazing idea, Airbnb is looking for you. The prize pool will allow 100 people an opportunity to make an actual Airbnb OMG! Category listing. These listings are the most unique and popular homes on the site.

Open now and finishing on 23 July 2022, the competition is open to anyone with an idea. Their submissions will be judged by an expert panel for their originality, feasibility, the experience the space will provide guests and sustainability.

Airbnb OMG! Fund

The OMG! Fund is a passion project from Airbnb and co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky. It was inspired by his background as a designer and entrepreneur. The aim is to financially assist in creating the most unique spaces around the world. 

Standout design is integral to Airbnb, says a media release. It is where the company’s story began. The two founders hosted an apartment to make ends meet during a design conference. The rest, as they say, is history. 

The fund is shaped in part by the growing trend of flexible living that has emerged in the past two years. As part of this shift, Airbnb guests are craving more unexpected spaces that become the destinations themselves. People are booking for the accommodation, not just the location. With this, more than 30,000 unique listings across the world were added to Airbnb in 2021. The OMG! Category has the highest rate of engagement. It’s not just about booking, but perusing the weird and wonderful.

Applications will be reviewed by a judging panel of boundary-pushing design authorities, an architectural expert and an Airbnb OMG! Category Superhost:

• Iris Apfel, incomparable and irreverent centenarian style icon
• Koichi Takada of Koichi Takada Architects, founder of Sydney-based global firm known for emotive design inspired by the natural world 
• Kristie Wolfe, Airbnb Superhost and prolific creator of OMG! Listings including the Potato Hotel, Crystal Peak Lookout, Big Island Treehouse and the forthcoming Shipwreck House
• Bruce Vaughn, Disney alum and Airbnb’s VP of Experiential Creative Product 

The US$10,000,000 OMG! Fund is now open for a period of 30 days, through to 23 July at 1.59pm AEST. The 100 fund recipients will be selected by the panel over the next several months, with the intent of having their newly-constructed spaces complete next year.