Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Bamboo Structure Overlooking Green Wetlands with Hempcrete Foundation

Authors:
Phurin Jungteerapanich, Phatchanon Varanukulsak, Panas Saengvanich, Kittimont Kookasemkij
Bamboo Structure Overlooking Green Wetlands with Hempcrete Foundation
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
The integration of a bamboo structure and hempcrete foundation creates a sustainable observatory that enhances ecological awareness while serving as an educational space for engaging with the Al Wathba Wetland ecosystem.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design incorporates a central botanical pond that serves both ecological and educational purposes.
02
Gaps in the structure facilitate local wildlife nesting, enhancing biodiversity.
03
The use of hempcrete allows for a lightweight and sustainable foundation.
04
Observation points are strategically placed to minimize disturbance to wildlife.
05
Rattan handrails are utilized to create a natural aesthetic that blends with the surroundings.

Cumulative Phenomenon, situated within the unique ecological context of Al Wathba, showcases a design that emphasizes interaction and education. The structure has two primary functions: during the open season, it serves as an observatory, allowing visitors to engage with the wetlands, while in the closed season, it transforms into a monument that focuses on environmental regeneration. The overall concept encourages a close relationship between people and nature.

Functionality and Seasonal Adaptability

The design adapts to seasonal variations effectively. In spring and summer, the structure invites people in to explore and learn about the local ecosystem, promoting awareness of the region’s biodiversity. Once the closed season begins, the emphasis shifts from visitor engagement to allowing the environment to recover, showcasing the importance of adaptive design that respects natural cycles.

Pathways and Interaction with Ecosystem

Visitors follow an intricate network of pathways that guide them through different landscape experiences. These paths vary in incline and shape, enhancing the overall journey while ensuring accessibility for all. The trails lead to essential features like a botanical pond, which acts as both an educational tool and an area of visual interest. Elevated viewpoints throughout the design offer unobtrusive vantage points for observing wildlife, helping people connect with the surroundings without disturbing them.

Material Choices and Structural Elements

The foundation is made using hempcrete, a material recognized for its sustainability and lightness, which provides structural stability. Handrails crafted from rattan contribute to a natural feel, blending well with the environment. The main support structure is built from bamboo, chosen for its strength and rapid growth. This careful selection of materials highlights the commitment to environmentally friendly practices and local resource utilization throughout the design.

Biodiversity and Environmental Integration

The design places a strong emphasis on supporting local biodiversity. Gaps within the structure are intentional, allowing birds and other creatures to nest, thus enhancing the ecological habitat. The central botanical pond offers a space for observing the interactions between different species and plant life. Additionally, the microclimate created by the water vapor rising from the pond contributes to improved comfort and promotes the growth of various plants.

The experience is further enriched by shaded areas that blend into the landscape, providing relief from the sun while respecting the environment. Each aspect of the design demonstrates an understanding of how architecture can enhance connections with the natural world and serve the community's educational needs effectively.

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