Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

A Modular Treehouse Inspired Rotational Dwelling

Authors:
Amyra Marlia, Safira Salsabila, Dinullah Ibrahim
A Modular Treehouse Inspired Rotational Dwelling
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
A rotating microhouse with bamboo catchment systems efficiently integrates sustainable living with compact functionality, providing a flexible space for everyday life.
5 key facts about this project
01
Rotating mechanism allows seamless transition between living functions.
02
Bamboo water catchment system enhances sustainability and efficiency.
03
Modular structure provides flexible use of space in compact design.
04
Vertical garden integrates greenery into the living environment.
05
Stationary central module offers dedicated storage and entrance area.

The design focuses on a microhouse that features an innovative rotating mechanism to improve both space usage and functionality. Positioned within a natural environment, the microhouse captures the feeling of being in a tree house, giving residents a unique view of their surroundings. The concept prioritizes modular elements that can adapt to the needs of the occupants, allowing for a flexible connection between indoor and outdoor areas.

Design Concept

At the heart of the microhouse is its ability to rotate 180 degrees, similar to how a ferris wheel operates. This rotating feature allows for an easy transition between different activities within the space while maintaining stability. The building is organized into three separate modules: two movable side modules that each offer multiple functions, and a stationary middle module used for storage and entrance. This layout maximizes the small footprint and creates versatile living spaces.

Spatial Organization

The microhouse includes essential areas for everyday life, such as a kitchen and washroom combined, dedicated storage, an entrance, and a bedroom that also serves as an office. This practical arrangement separates active living areas from more private spaces. Cooking and relaxation occur in distinct zones, while showering and sleeping areas are thoughtfully placed to enhance comfort and usability for the inhabitants.

Materiality

Material choice is critical for the design, focusing on performance and ecological impact. Bamboo is used for the outer skin of the microhouse, chosen for its flexibility and ability to support a vertical garden. This adds greenery to the space while also improving air quality. Iron wire strengthens the vertical garden structure, and polycarbonate sheets serve as a thermal regulator, allowing natural light to enter while retaining heat. Light plywood is included for its balance of weight and strength, providing practical finishes for interiors and built-in furniture.

Sustainability Strategies

The microhouse incorporates environmental practices, particularly in water management. Rainwater is captured using bamboo catchment systems and purified through natural stone filters, making it suitable for kitchen and bathroom use. The design also includes greywater recycling to support irrigation for the vertical garden. A compost toilet system processes waste, returning nutrients back into the garden. This comprehensive approach promotes a living experience rooted in sustainability and environmental awareness.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
100,000€ Prize / 2026

The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

`
Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026

Open architecture competitions

  • Closest deadline first
  • Project competitions first
    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
Concrete 
Pavilion

Design a concrete pavilion

Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025
new
Rome 
Rain Rooms

Design a rain room for Rome

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 14 January 2026
new
Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 21 January 2026
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 28 January 2026
The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #7 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025
Re:Form - 
New Life 
for Old Spaces

Choose a site—used, abandoned, or forgotten—anywhere in the world, and give it a new purpose

Edition #2 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 3 December 2025
The Home of 
Shadows

Design a home with no artificial lighting

The light studies. Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 14 January 2026
The Architect’s 
Stair

Take a step and make a statement!

Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 15 January 2026
The Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 22 January 2026
new
MICROHOME 2026

Design a new concept of small-scale home and share a prize fund of 100,000€

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 11 February 2026
new
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2026 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 26 February 2026

Media, partners and clients

To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy