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Interactive Steel Facades and Art Frames in Urban Design

Authors:
Elena Clapan, Azaria Rusu, Ioana Gheorghita, Irina Enache
Interactive Steel Facades and Art Frames in Urban Design
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Transforming blind walls into rotating public art surfaces, this urban design project integrates steel, glass, and natural elements to create community-driven spaces that support interaction, flexibility, and creativity.
5 key facts about this project
01
Modular framing systems enable rotating art installations.
02
Transparent glazing maintains visibility and weather-resistance.
03
Durable materials ensure low maintenance and long-term use.
04
Landscape integration enhances environmental performance and comfort.
05
Multipurpose zones support diverse community activities year-round.

This urban architectural intervention reimagines the function of blind walls, traditionally passive or underutilized surfaces, as platforms for interactive community art. Each wall is equipped with modular framing systems that allow rotating installations, turning static facades into dynamic urban galleries. The strategy invites local participation and storytelling, encouraging residents and artists to shape the visual landscape of their environment.

The use of transparent glazing enhances the dialogue between indoor and outdoor spaces. This protective layer allows artworks to be displayed year-round while remaining visible, engaging, and weather-resistant. The facade becomes both an exhibition space and a responsive architectural element.

The project relies on a durable palette that blends rectangular steel pipes, plaster wall finishes, and translucent plastic sheeting. These materials offer low maintenance and support long-term structural integrity. Steel’s flexibility allows for custom fabrication of art frames and facade modules that can evolve with the community’s needs.

A key emphasis is placed on landscape integration: surrounding planting beds, flower borders, and trees soften the hard surfaces and anchor the architecture within a living environment. This park-like buffer not only improves environmental performance but also supports passive cooling and public comfort. The design integrates multipurpose zones—open, shaded spaces that serve as informal classrooms, markets, or cultural gathering areas. These features ensure year-round use and accessibility for diverse groups, reinforcing the social sustainability of the project. Together, these strategies create a versatile urban infrastructure: functional, expressive, and responsive to evolving community identities.

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100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
The Next House: USA
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20,000 USD Prize
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
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100,000€ Prize / 2026

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

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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.

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