Would you like $100,000 USD to build your dream home?

With Airbnb searches for unusual spaces (think shepherds’ huts, windmills and tiny houses) having increased by nearly 70 per cent over the last year, people are clearly seeking unique holiday experiences. In response, and in great news for budding designers, Airbnb has just launched a $1 million USD search for the most unique home ideas.

The fund is the company’s first-ever $1 million USD ($1.5 million AUD) program and it’s designed to enable anyone with an extraordinary house idea to design and build it, and then share it with travellers all over the world.

JR's Ecohut, in the NSW town of Nangus — The unique Airbnb listed Ecohut, in the NSW town of Nangus

So, if you’ve got a unique home idea that needs funding to take flight, now just might be the time. Submissions, which are open until mid-April 2020, will be judged against a set of criteria including creativity, feasibility, sustainability and social good.

The most obvious criteria, ‘creativity,’ asks that a successful entry be full of surprises, both inside and out. The ‘feasibility’ category asks you to demonstrate how you’d pull off the project with a budget of $100,000 USD. ‘Sustainability’ will be judged in terms of the project’s use of recycled materials, energy efficiency, smart irrigation, waste reduction and its overall environmental footprint, while ‘social good’ looks at the way the project would benefit guests, neighbours and the community at large.

Bruny Island Hideaway — Off the coast of Tasmania, Bruny Island Hideway offers a unique stay

Ten recipients will be selected by a panel of design and style innovators including award-winning actor Billy Porter, Airbnb Superhost Kirstie Wolfe (of the famed Big Idaho Potato Hotel), and global cutting-edge architecture firm MVRDV.

Judge Kirstie Wolfe with her Big Idaho Potato Hotel. — Judge Kirstie Wolfe with her Big Idaho Potato Hotel, in the US state of Idaho

“The only thing better than pushing the boundaries of style, is empowering others to do the same. I’m thrilled to join Airbnb in this global search for the most outrageous, spectacular home ideas ever. I can’t wait to see these concepts developed by design lovers from around the world first-hand,” says Billy Porter.

You can stay in this deluxe shipping container retreat in South Australia

MVRDV partner Fokke Moerel is equally enthusiastic. “The Unique Airbnb Fund is a great initiative that makes hospitality exciting. It will empower people to create new spaces with daring, imaginative and fantastic architecture,” says Fokke.