This October, Ball Architects stepped away from the drafting table and into the world of seasonal design to participate in Pella’s annual CARVE-ITECTURE contest. Known for celebrating creativity, collaboration, and a touch of fall flair, the contest invites architects, builders, and engineers to transform ordinary pumpkins into extraordinary works of art.
Our team embraced the challenge with a concept inspired by one of the most iconic design platforms of the digital age: Minecraft. The idea? A deconstructed pumpkin reimagined as a pixel-perfect cube. We carved the pumpkin into individual segments and meticulously reconstructed it into a blocky, geometric form—paying homage to both the game’s aesthetic and our own architectural roots.
The carving session quickly turned into a team-building highlight. Between the scooping, slicing, and strategic planning, we shared plenty of laughs and a few engineering debates. How do you stabilize a pumpkin cube? What’s the best way to align uneven slices? These questions sparked creative problem-solving and showcased the same collaborative spirit we bring to our projects every day.
The final result was a playful yet precise creation that blends digital inspiration with hands-on craftsmanship. It’s a reminder that great design can come from unexpected places—and that sometimes, the best ideas are born when you’re elbow-deep in pumpkin guts.
🗳️ Voting is now live!
We’d love your support! Head over to Pella’s Facebook page and like the original post featuring our pumpkin to help us earn credit in the contest. Voting closes October 30th at 5 PM, so don’t wait!
