Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Cylindrical Housing Units with Structural Panels and Shared Courtyards in San Francisco

Authors:
Ankur Sharma, Anurag Pandey
Cylindrical Housing Units with Structural Panels and Shared Courtyards in San Francisco
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Radial arrangements of cylindrical housing units atop existing rooftops create sustainable living solutions in San Francisco, enhanced by shared courtyards and environmentally conscious design elements.
5 key facts about this project
01
Radial housing units utilize existing rooftops for efficient space usage.
02
Each unit accommodates up to 40 residents at urban intersections.
03
Shared courtyards promote community interaction and social engagement.
04
Constructed with structural insulated panels for enhanced energy efficiency.
05
Urban advertising elements provide funding while serving a communal purpose.

The architectural design proposed for San Francisco aims to address the growing demand for housing in a city facing significant pressures on its housing supply. With a sharp increase in population and rents over the past decade, there is an urgent need to find new ways to utilize urban spaces. The design focuses on integrating housing units into the existing urban grid, taking advantage of the city’s unique layout to develop practical living solutions.

Concept and Design Approach
The core idea involves placing new housing units on rooftops at city intersections. This strategy allows for a radial arrangement of cylindrical housing units, accommodating around 40 individuals at each site. This design makes efficient use of land while preserving the characteristic urban fabric of San Francisco. Existing structures serve as the foundation for these new units, maintaining the continuity of the environment.

Community Interaction
An important feature of this design is its encouragement of community engagement. Shared courtyards are incorporated to promote social activities among residents, reflecting a traditional aspect of San Francisco's urban planning. Central hammocks in these courtyards are intended to provide relaxing spaces for people to gather and interact. The inclusion of urban advertising serves a practical purpose: it generates revenue to support construction costs while also functioning as a platform for broadcasting local events, thereby enhancing the social fabric of the area.

Proposed Locations
Three potential sites have been identified for this initiative: Ellsworth Street, Hanover Street, and S Van Ness Avenue. Each location presents unique opportunities for blending the new housing with existing neighborhoods, contributing to the overall revitalization of these urban areas.

Materials and Sustainability
The project outlines specific materials intended to enhance durability and ensure sustainability. Structural insulated panels will provide both insulation and structural support while remaining lightweight. Renewable cork sheets will be used in kitchens and bathrooms, chosen for their cost-effectiveness. Recycled plastic tiles are also included to promote environmentally friendly practices. Glazed windows will enhance natural lighting, and thin solar film will be used to improve energy efficiency throughout the residential units.

The design thoughtfully addresses the housing needs of the community while maintaining a connection to the existing urban landscape. The central courtyards not only invite interaction but also generate a sense of place, encouraging a vibrant community atmosphere within the city.

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