Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Curved Polycarbonate Structure Enhancing Urban Coffee Experience

Authors:
Anthony Hans Widjaja, Florencia Wibisono, Marcello Giuberto, Gerda Callista
Curved Polycarbonate Structure Enhancing Urban Coffee Experience
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
A curved polycarbonate structure enhances the urban landscape while providing an inviting coffee house experience that fosters interaction and community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
A curved façade guides pedestrian flow, enhancing visibility and interaction.
02
Polycarbonate panels create a luminous interior while maintaining energy efficiency.
03
Strategic ceiling height variations improve functionality and user navigation.
04
Tilted roof design facilitates effective rainwater drainage and sustainability.
05
The open barista area transforms coffee preparation into an engaging visual experience.

The design features a coffee house situated within an urban setting, aimed at enhancing the experience of coffee drinking. Built around the concept of a drop of coffee, the building presents a form that invites exploration and interaction. With its inviting atmosphere, the coffee house encourages engagement from passers-by, making it a central point of interest.

Conceptual Design

The facade has a smooth, curved surface that guides visitors toward the entrance. This design creates a natural flow for foot traffic and invites curiosity. The opening serves as a stage for interaction between the barista and customers, allowing the coffee preparation area to be visible. By highlighting the process of making coffee, the design offers an engaging experience that goes beyond simple consumption.

Spatial Layout

Varying ceiling heights play a significant role in the functionality of the space. The lowest part of the ceiling hangs above the coffee machine, providing an efficient working area for the barista. Higher sections of the ceiling help customers navigate the space, making it easier for them to find their way to the ordering area. This arrangement prioritizes practicality while maintaining an appealing look.

Material Characteristics

Polycarbonate serves as the primary material for the building. Its translucent quality lets in plenty of natural light, creating a bright interior during the day. The lightweight nature of polycarbonate simplifies transport and assembly, making construction easier. Furthermore, it acts as an effective barrier against outdoor temperatures, contributing to a comfortable atmosphere inside.

Environmental Considerations

The design also features strategies for sustainability, including a tilted roof that assists with rainwater drainage. This helps manage water effectively and ensures the building’s durability. The lighting design incorporates both natural and artificial light sources, providing a warm atmosphere during the evening and inviting visitors to linger.

The building's unique curvature is more than just an aesthetic choice; it also helps define the coffee house within its urban environment. By drawing the attention of those passing by, it creates opportunities for connection and exploration, illuminated by the soft glow of the interior lights at dusk.

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