Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Charred Timber Cladding and Natural Cooling Strategies in a Sustainable Desert Residence

Charred Timber Cladding and Natural Cooling Strategies in a Sustainable Desert Residence
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Utilizing charred timber cladding and integrated solar panels, this residence achieves sustainable energy efficiency while emphasizing natural cooling techniques, ultimately serving as a modern family home in the arid climate of Dubai.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates barjeel to optimize airflow and enhance ventilation.
02
Utilizes 3D printing for select structural components, reducing waste.
03
Features green roofs that support local biodiversity and reduce heat.
04
Employs a central courtyard design that fosters social interaction and privacy.
05
Integrates reflective pools for temperature regulation through evaporative cooling.

### Project Overview
Located in the vibrant urban landscape of Dubai, the Oasis House is designed to reflect contemporary Emirati culture while addressing the unique environmental challenges of the region. This hybrid dwelling integrates aesthetic and functional elements suited for modern living, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and resource efficiency. The architecture aspires to create a new vernacular that resonates with the desert environment and the social dynamics of Emirati life.

### Spatial Strategy and User Interaction
The design features a central inward-looking courtyard, which serves as a crucial element for enhancing privacy and fostering community interaction. This arrangement encourages familial bonding while remaining true to traditional Arab architectural principles. The layout strategically facilitates natural ventilation, prioritizing thermal comfort and enhancing the relationship between built environments and their natural settings.

### Material Innovation and Sustainability
The construction of the Oasis House employs a diverse array of materials that align with its sustainable objectives. Key components include wooden roof panels, lightweight steel, and calcium sulfate with a timber frame, all selected for their low environmental impact and practicality. Additionally, the incorporation of 3D printing technology in certain structural elements highlights a commitment to innovative building practices, significantly reducing labor costs and material waste.

Sustainable features of the design further include integrated solar panels for energy autonomy, water management systems for effective rainwater harvesting, and strategically placed courtyards that contribute to a moderated indoor climate. The thoughtful integration of native vegetation enhances biodiversity, reinforcing the architectural commitment to environmental stewardship.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
100,000€ Prize / 2026
The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5

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
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026

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
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 28 January 2026
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
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026
Rome 
Rain Rooms

Design a rain room for Rome

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 12 March 2026
Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 13 May 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

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
Final registration deadline 4 February 2026
new
MICROHOME 2026

Design a new concept of small-scale home and share a prize fund of 100,000€

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 11 February 2026
new
Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #8 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
Early bird registration deadline 25 February 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
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
Final registration deadline 2 March 2026
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
Final registration deadline 5 March 2026
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
Final registration deadline 2 April 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