Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Capturing Sunlight with Solar Panels and Connecting Communities through Rippling Form

Author:
Nana aba Turkson
Capturing Sunlight with Solar Panels and Connecting Communities through Rippling Form

Project in-detail

A rippling form captures sunlight through integrated solar panels while fostering community interaction, providing multifunctional space for urban living.
5 key facts about this project
01
Rippling design allows for visual connectivity among multiple building levels.
02
Integrated solar panels support renewable energy initiatives.
03
Balconies promote social interaction and outdoor engagement.
04
Adaptive multipurpose spaces respond to changing community needs.
05
Rainwater collection systems enhance sustainability measures.

The Kurt Tower is an architectural endeavor that combines sustainability, community interaction, and multifunctional spaces in a contemporary urban context. Inspired by wind turbines, the design communicates a sense of freedom and lightness. This building aims to create opportunities for its occupants to connect with one another while visually integrating into the surrounding environment.

Community Engagement

The design features a ripple effect that promotes visual connections between different levels of the building. This approach allows people on upper floors to see and engage with those below them, encouraging social interactions. By shifting its shape, the structure addresses privacy concerns while still fostering an open atmosphere. The design seeks to create an environment where individuals can build relationships and strengthen community ties.

Sustainability Approach

A focus on sustainability drives many of the building's features. Solar panels are designed to capture sunlight, supporting the use of renewable energy. The project also includes systems for collecting rainwater and cool air from outside, enabling effective climate control within the building. These sustainable elements aim to lessen the ecological footprint and enhance the living conditions for those who occupy the space.

Multipurpose Functionality

The Kurt Tower is intended to be adaptable to the varying needs of its users. This flexibility allows it to serve multiple functions across time, responding to changes in community dynamics and user requirements. Such adaptability ensures the building remains relevant in a fast-paced urban setting, adjusting to the evolving needs of its occupants.

Balconies are an important feature throughout the design, providing transitional spaces that facilitate interactions between people and connect them to the outdoors. These areas enhance the functionality of the building, blending private space with communal experiences. The integration of these design elements draws attention to the importance of human connection in an urban environment.

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

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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