Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Community Living Supported by Dormitory-Style Solutions and Integrated Courtyards

Authors:
Jugal Ahuja, Zalmy Meyer
Community Living Supported by Dormitory-Style Solutions and Integrated Courtyards
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Dormitory-style living combined with integrated courtyards and communal kitchens creates a supportive framework for low-income residents, emphasizing wellness and community interaction in an urban setting.
5 key facts about this project
01
Residential units utilize a flexible modular design to optimize space and adapt to various site conditions.
02
Dormitory-style apartments promote shared living while maintaining private rooms for individual residents.
03
Integrated communal kitchens facilitate cooking and workshops aimed at skill development.
04
Open courtyards enhance visibility and community engagement, promoting safety among residents.
05
Ground-level retail spaces create job opportunities and support local economic activity within the community.

The Rubik is a social housing project that addresses the needs of low-income residents in an urban area facing many challenges. With a focus on creating a supportive environment, the design integrates communal spaces and individual living units to enhance both personal and community well-being. By emphasizing collaboration and connection, the project aims to change how residents interact with their surroundings and each other.

Conceptual Framework

The design is built around three essential categories: Mental Wellness, Physical Wellness, and Community Gathering. Each element is carefully integrated to create an environment that supports both individual and collective needs. This holistic approach helps tackle common social barriers, encouraging residents to engage with one another while improving their overall quality of life.

Spatial Organization

The residential units use a modular design to make the best use of space. Dormitory-style apartments allow single residents to share common areas while still having their own private rooms for rest. This design not only maximizes capacity but also promotes a sense of community among those living together.

Community Amenities

Communal spaces are a key feature of the Rubik. Outdoor areas, such as basketball courts and playgrounds, act as social hubs where residents can interact and build relationships. Additionally, communal kitchens and educational spaces enable workshops for skill building and personal growth. These amenities create opportunities for sharing knowledge and experiences, enriching the lives of residents.

Safety and Engagement

Safety is a primary concern within the design. Open courtyards enhance visibility and promote community interaction, making residents feel secure. Retail spaces at ground level also play an important role in the project. These spaces encourage local business and provide job opportunities for residents, helping to strengthen community ties.

The Rubik illustrates a modern approach to social housing, where living spaces are designed not only for residents' individual needs but also for the community's collective well-being. Thoughtful arrangements create an atmosphere that fosters connection, belonging, and personal development.

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

Vancouver Tall Challenge: Building Higher Downtown

`
Competition organisers

The Vancouver Tall Challenge: Building Higher Downtown is an international architecture competition organized by Buildner in collaboration with the City of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA). The competition invites architects, designers, planners, and creative thinkers to explore innovative approaches to tall buildings in Vancouver’s downtown core, focusing on sustainability, livability, urban density, public space, and the city’s strong connection to nature. As Vancouver continues to grow, participants are challenged to rethink how vertical development can enhance urban life and contribute to a more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient city identity.

The competition offers a total prize fund of $15,000 CAD, with winning proposals selected by an international jury of architects, planners, academics, and city-building professionals. Key dates include the final registration deadline on October 29, 2026, submission deadline on November 30, 2026, and winners announcement on January 26, 2027. Full competition details, requirements, and registration information are available at architecturecompetitions.com/VancouverTallChallenge

Vancouver Tall Challenge

Design the future of Vancouver’s skyline

Building higher downtown ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 29 October 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
New York High Falls 
Riverfront Market

Design a New Riverfront Market in Rochester, New York

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 7 October 2026
Valli Wine 
Tasting Room

Design a wine tasting room in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 8 October 2026
The 
Quiet 
Tower

Design an observation tower in Latvia

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 15 October 2026
Vancouver 
Tall Challenge

Design the future of Vancouver’s skyline

Building higher downtown ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 29 October 2026
The Oak 
Moon 
Pavilion

Design a yoga pavilion in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 5 November 2026
Portugal Long Table 
Restaurant

Design a slow-living restaurant in Portugal

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 9 December 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 28 October 2026
Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #9 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
Advance registration deadline 12 November 2026
The 
Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Stockholm Furniture Fair Edition #6 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award + Exhibition at Stockholm Furniture Fair
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 3 December 2026
new
Buildner's Unbuilt Award

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a 50,000€ prize

50,000€ Prize / 2027 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 50,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 4 February 2027

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