Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Affordable Housing Solution with Integrated Community Spaces

Author:
James Apple
Affordable Housing Solution with Integrated Community Spaces
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Situated in East Melbourne, the development combines a Tower, Mid-Rise, and Low-Rise structures to provide a diverse array of affordable housing options, seamlessly integrating communal spaces like a library and green areas to foster community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Tower, Mid-Rise, and Low-Rise structures designed for varying demographic needs.
02
Community rooftop enhances social interaction among residents.
03
Modern library serves as a central hub for communal activities.
04
Integration of public green spaces encourages environmental sustainability.
05
Affordable housing options significantly lower average unit costs.

The design in East Melbourne responds to the growing need for affordable housing through three distinct residential forms: the Tower, Mid-Rise, and Low-Rise. Each element addresses specific demographic needs while emphasizing community and accessibility. The location is integral, situated to serve a diverse population. Overall, the concept encourages a balance of private living spaces and public amenities, fostering a sense of belonging and interaction among residents.

Residential Configurations

The Tower serves young professionals, who make up 31% of the local population. It features one-bedroom units that maximize limited space through a vertical layout. These units provide comfortable living for busy individuals. The communal rooftop offers green space, creating places for socializing and relaxation. This design element encourages residents to engage with each other and enjoy their surroundings.

The Mid-Rise section focuses on growing families, accounting for 21% of the residents. It offers two-bedroom units across two stories, designed with family life in mind. The architecture encourages connections through landscaped courtyards where children can play and families can gather. This adaptability makes the Mid-Rise suitable for varying family needs, responding to changes over time.

Affordable Housing Integration

The Low-Rise section includes three-bedroom units aimed at established families seeking affordable options. By combining several single-family lots into a larger development, the design enhances housing density without feeling crowded. This approach promotes accessibility and reinforces commitment to cost-effective living. It serves as a practical solution for those looking for family-friendly environments in a competitive housing market.

Community and Public Amenities

A vital aspect of the design is its integration with public amenities. A modern library stands at the heart of the development, serving as a resource and gathering place for residents. This library distinguishes private housing from public retail and office areas, creating a hub for community activities. Other features, such as a community garden and an existing church, contribute to the neighborhood's social cohesion and support an engaged lifestyle.

Efforts to combine residential living with community services are evident throughout the design. The balance of private and public spaces aims to enhance daily life for residents, encouraging interaction and shared experiences. This focus on community makes the East Melbourne development a model for future housing projects.

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 Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
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
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025

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
new
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
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025
new
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 26 November 2025
Concrete 
Pavilion

Design a concrete pavilion

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

Recurring architecture competitions

new
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
Early bird registration deadline 5 November 2025
The Last 
Nuclear Bomb Memorial

Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

Edition #6 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 13 November 2025
new
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
Early bird registration deadline 20 November 2025
Hospice - 
Home for the 
Terminally ill

Design a safe and supportive space to those struggling with a terminal illness

Edition #5 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 10,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 26 November 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 26 November 2025
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 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
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