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 Wooden Shingles and Structural Glass Create a Vertical Community Hub

Charred Wooden Shingles and Structural Glass Create a Vertical Community Hub
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Incorporating charred wooden shingles and expansive structural glass, this vertical community hub in Tehran redefines urban living by seamlessly blending residential and communal spaces.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates charred wooden shingles for enhanced weather resistance and aesthetic appeal.
02
Features expansive structural glass facades, promoting natural light and community connection.
03
Utilizes cross-laminated timber panels for efficient construction and sustainability.
04
Designed with a bent A-frame, offering unique visual dynamics and structural integrity.
05
Includes an internal promenade that integrates retail and communal functions to enhance social interaction.

## Analytical Report on the Xivan Residential Architectural Design Project

### Overview

Located on Saadat Abad Street in Tehran, the Xivan Residential project addresses the pressing need for urban housing solutions that prioritize density and multifunctionality. The design aims to respond to contemporary challenges such as urban sprawl, rising population density, and the demand for integrated living spaces. By proposing a cohesive superstructure, the project seeks to create a vertical neighborhood that combines residential, commercial, and recreational functions, thus fostering a self-sustaining community with accessible amenities.

### Superstructure and Layout

The design incorporates a large superstructure that organizes multiple levels of residential units alongside shared community spaces. Key features include:

- **Vertical Organization**: By maximizing land use through a multi-story configuration, the design allows for adaptable living spaces that can change in response to evolving needs. This vertical strategy supports the development of a layered urban environment, facilitating a diverse range of lifestyle options.

- **Flexible Floor Plans**: The project employs versatile layouts that accommodate various demographic needs and preferences. By facilitating the repurposing of spaces, the design enhances the longevity and relevance of each unit, promoting a dynamic residential landscape.

### Integration of Public and Private Spaces

A defining element of the Xivan project is its thoughtful balance between private and public realms:

- **Internal Promenade**: Serving as an "internal street," this central feature promotes social interaction among residents and is designed to host leisure and retail activities, effectively creating a micro-neighborhood within the building.

- **Public Amenities**: The inclusion of recreational facilities, such as parks and gathering areas, emphasizes the project's commitment to fostering community life. These shared spaces contribute to a holistic living environment that encourages interaction and engagement.

### Responsive Design and Sustainability

The project reflects a responsive design ethos that accommodates future lifestyle changes, acknowledging that urban dynamics are constantly evolving. By integrating adaptable spaces, the architects aim to ensure long-term viability without requiring extensive renovations. This flexibility not only supports resource conservation but also promotes sustainable living, reinforcing the concept of architecture as a life cycle that evolves with its inhabitants. The design foresight promotes a harmonious relationship between the built environment and the changing needs of its users, positioning the Xivan Residential project as a forward-looking model for urban housing.

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