Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

An Adaptive Skyscraper Harnessing Wind and Water Resources

Authors:
Abdulrahman Harib, Valerija Galkina, Carla Roemmelt
An Adaptive Skyscraper Harnessing Wind and Water Resources
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
The vertical split design utilizes aerodynamic forms to capture wind energy, while sophisticated moisture management strategies address local climate conditions, serving as a mixed-use facility in the urban landscape of Hong Kong.
5 key facts about this project
01
The vertical split design enhances natural airflow throughout the building.
02
A kinetic energy collection system harnesses prevailing winds for power.
03
Moisture management techniques utilize daily temperature fluctuations for condensation.
04
East and West surfaces are optimized for effective fog harvesting.
05
The skin design mimics biological forms for environmental responsiveness.

The proposal Murus-Scape is located in the dense urban area of Hong Kong, next to a busy motorway. This position enhances accessibility while allowing the building to engage with various environmental factors. The design focuses on sustainability and adapts to local climate conditions. It incorporates innovative technologies and materials to create a structure that is both functional and visually appealing. Emphasizing energy efficiency, Murus-Scape employs smart technology within its framework to reflect a modern approach to urban life.

Site Context and Form

The base of the structure follows a rectilinear pattern that fits within the existing urban grid. As it rises, the design shifts into an aerodynamically effective form. This vertical split allows for the preservation of ground-level movement, which is important for maintaining the flow of urban life. The height of the building is also skilled at capturing airflow, maximizing the benefits of its environment.

Energy and Environmental Responsiveness

A significant characteristic of Murus-Scape is its use of the predominant winds blowing from the North and South-East. The building features a kinetic energy collection system that transforms wind energy into a usable resource. This design choice emphasizes a commitment to sustainable practices. The outer skin of the building draws inspiration from biological forms, providing protection while also adapting to external factors.

Water Collection Strategies

The design takes advantage of local weather patterns by employing methods for passive water collection. Daily changes in temperature are used to promote condensation. Additionally, the East and West surfaces of the building are designed to enhance fog harvesting. These strategies highlight a sophisticated understanding of the local microclimate and display innovative solutions for sustainability in an urban setting.

Energy Efficiency

The orientation of Murus-Scape in relation to the surrounding mountains improves its energy efficiency. The overall shape of the building recalls the forms of clouds, linking it to the atmosphere. This careful integration of design and function responds well to the challenges of urban density. The layered exterior allows for effective energy interaction while providing visual complexity that adds to its character in the cityscape. The play of light and shadow on the building surface further enhances its presence in the urban environment, creating a dynamic relationship with the surroundings.

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