Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Corten Steel Curvature Enveloping a Community Space

Authors:
José Joaquin Cordua, Juan Cordua Allende
Corten Steel Curvature Enveloping a Community Space
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
The distinctive curvature of Corten steel defines a vibrant community space that integrates renewable energy solutions and fosters engagement through dynamic lighting and interaction.
5 key facts about this project
01
Corten steel exterior reflects urban industrial heritage.
02
Curved C-profile pillars create double curvature for visual interest.
03
Integrated solar panels support autonomous energy needs.
04
Perforated surfaces emit colored light, engaging the surrounding area.
05
LED lighting provides ambient illumination and enhances interaction.

The Berlin Techno Booth design connects deeply with the local culture and the history of electronic music in Berlin. Positioned within a vibrant urban setting, the booth serves as a space for community engagement and cultural expression. The design revolves around two distinct oval shapes that create the floor and roof, forming a visually engaging structure that encourages interaction and participation.

Geometric Dynamics

At the center of this design are the two oval surfaces, with the upper component rotated by 90 degrees compared to the lower. This rotation creates visual interest and alters the spatial experience within the booth. Curved steel C-profile pillars support the structure, providing stability while contributing to a dynamic form. The use of double curvature enhances the way the booth interacts with its surroundings.

Illumination and Environment

Light plays a crucial role in shaping the atmosphere inside the Berlin Techno Booth. LED lighting is integrated within the curved C-pillars and diffused through translucent paper, creating a soft glow that fills the space. Perforated surfaces allow light to escape, casting colorful patterns outside and inviting curious onlookers to engage with the installation. This thoughtful use of illumination creates a connection between the booth and the urban environment.

Material Considerations

Materials are carefully chosen to align with the booth’s identity. The exterior is made with Corten steel sheets, valued for their weathered appearance and durability, reflecting Berlin’s industrial past. Rock wool insulation provides effective thermal performance, ensuring comfort within the booth. Inside, chrome steel sheets serve to reflect light, making the space feel larger than it is. Each material contributes to the overall aesthetic while maintaining functionality.

Sustainable Design

The roof's inclination is designed to accommodate solar panels, supporting a move towards sustainable energy use. This feature allows the booth to operate independently, offering power for lighting and sound without relying on external sources. Adopting renewable energy reflects a modern approach to architecture, emphasizing resourcefulness within the urban landscape.

The combination of thoughtfully designed perforations and strategic lighting results in an engaging experience, with light spilling into the surrounding area. This creates a vibrant atmosphere that invites participation from both users and passersby.

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