Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Circular Shelter Constructed with Reinforced Concrete and Acoustic Insulation for Resilient Community Living

Circular Shelter Constructed with Reinforced Concrete and Acoustic Insulation for Resilient Community Living
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed with reinforced concrete and designed with a circular layout, the structure integrates dedicated air raid shelters and acoustic insulation to provide a safe and supportive environment for vulnerable communities in conflict zones.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with modular units to allow for flexible space adaptation.
02
Incorporates dedicated air raid shelters within residential units for immediate safety.
03
Circular design minimizes exposure to threats while enhancing communal engagement.
04
Utilizes acoustic insulation to reduce external noise disturbances in living areas.
05
Features self-sustaining systems for water and energy to enhance resilience.

### Overview of the Project
Located in Kharkiv, Ukraine, this design addresses the complex challenges posed by urban warfare and aims to create a building that enhances safety and resilience in conflict zones. Recognizing the impact of armed conflict on urban settings, the project integrates strategies to minimize civilian exposure to violence while providing functional spaces that support community needs. The design balances humanitarian considerations with structural integrity, creating a refuge for residents in the face of ongoing conflict.

### Key Design Outcomes
**Innovative Structural Framework**: The building features a modular structural framework that can easily adapt to changing conditions and varied requirements. This adaptability allows the structure to function as both a refuge and a community hub, contributing to the overall resilience of the urban environment.
**Air Raid Shelters**: Integrated air raid shelters are a crucial aspect of the design, providing immediate safety for residents. These shelters include strategically located entrances and effective ventilation systems to ensure emergency preparedness. Additionally, communal areas and recreational facilities are incorporated to foster community connections and support resilience beyond mere physical safety.

### Material Selection
The choice of materials is fundamental to the building's resilience and functionality. Key materials include:
- **Reinforced Concrete**: Offers durability and strength against potential threats.
- **Steel Frame**: Serves as the primary structural element, providing flexibility and resilience.
- **Modular Prefabricated Units**: Facilitate efficient construction and adaptability.
- **Glass Panels**: Allow natural light while considering security needs.
- **Acoustic Insulation**: Helps mitigate noise from external disturbances.

The design employs reinforced walls capable of withstanding blasts, multiple exits for rapid evacuation, and terraced layouts to mitigate direct lines of sight, enhancing safety against potential threats. Open and flexible spatial plans accommodate varying household structures, while secluded walkways promote community interaction while reducing exposure to risk. Additionally, self-sustaining systems for water and energy are integrated to lessen reliance on vulnerable external infrastructure during crises.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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 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
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
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

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 Home of 
Shadows

Design a home with no artificial lighting

The light studies. Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 14 January 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
Advance registration deadline 15 January 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
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