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 Wood Shingles and Steel Structures Enhancing Urban Connectivity in a Public Park

Authors:
Laid Omeri, Tyler Hyun Sauter, In San Chiang
Charred Wood Shingles and Steel Structures Enhancing Urban Connectivity in a Public Park

Project in-detail

Utilizing charred wood shingles and a robust steel framework, the design enhances urban connectivity while providing essential recreational spaces along the Broadway Corridor.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and fire resistance.
02
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels to promote sustainability and reduce carbon footprint.
03
Features a bent A-frame design that optimizes natural light and ventilation.
04
Integrates native landscaping to support local biodiversity and ecological balance.
05
Design connects multiple neighborhoods, fostering community interaction and accessibility.

**Analytical Report: Common Ground Architectural Design Project**

The Common Ground project is situated around the Broadway Bridge in Portland, Oregon, aiming to enhance urban connectivity through a reimagining of public spaces along the city's riverbanks. This initiative is designed to integrate the natural environment with the built setting, fostering a linear neighborhood and urban park that serves diverse community needs. It emphasizes the importance of community engagement by providing interactive spaces for residents and visitors to converge, while also resonating with the historical context of the area by drawing on local narratives and architectural styles.

### Community Engagement and Spatial Strategy

Central to the design is the focus on community-oriented spaces that facilitate social interaction. The spatial organization includes a network of pedestrian pathways, recreational areas, and community facilities arranged beneath and around the bridge, creating an environment that promotes inclusive participation. This layout supports a variety of activities, offering shaded areas for gatherings, open green spaces for leisure, and structured locations for community programs, thereby enhancing the overall user experience and promoting a strong sense of place.

### Materiality and Ecological Integration

The project employs a carefully selected palette of materials that contribute to both aesthetic appeal and functional performance. Key materials include durable steel for structural components, transparent glass for community buildings, and concrete for pathways, all chosen to enhance longevity and stability. Wood elements serve to create inviting installations throughout the park. Additionally, the integration of native vegetation and sustainable landscaping practices bolsters local biodiversity and ecological resilience. Effective stormwater management strategies further demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability, embedding natural processes within the urban framework and ensuring that the design interacts harmoniously with the surrounding ecosystem.

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