Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Elevated Living Integrated with Moss Panels and High-Strength Concrete

Elevated Living Integrated with Moss Panels and High-Strength Concrete
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Integrating high-strength concrete with biophilic design elements like moss panels, the structure offers adaptable micro-housing solutions that harmonize urban living with ecological sensitivity.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes high-strength concrete to enhance structural integrity while minimizing weight.
02
Incorporates advanced natural ventilation strategies through strategically placed openings.
03
Features modular units designed for efficient space utilization and adaptability.
04
Employs moss panels for enhanced insulation and biodiversity support.
05
Integrates telescopic lifts for seamless vertical accessibility across varying elevations.

# Architectural Design Analysis Report: Ecotone Haven

## Overview
Ecotone Haven is strategically located at the intersection of urban development and natural ecosystems, addressing ecological concerns while enhancing residential living. This project prioritizes a cohesive relationship between built structures and surrounding landscapes, employing innovative design methodologies to optimize both functionality and sustainability.

## Ecological Integration
### Ecotonic Philosophy
The design embodies the principles of an ecotone, recognizing transitional ecological spaces rich in biodiversity. By implementing strategies to respect and preserve habitats threatened by urban sprawl, the architecture reflects a commitment to fluidity and interconnectivity, effectively bridging urban and natural environments. This approach aims to reduce human impact while fostering symbiotic relationships between inhabitants and their surroundings.

### Material Selection and Sustainability
The project utilizes a varied selection of materials that align with sustainability objectives. High-strength concrete forms the foundation, providing durability while keeping thermal mass minimal. Large windows enhance natural light and passive solar heating, keeping occupants visually connected to the landscape. An external structure of lightweight aluminum and steel allows adaptability to the local terrain, while moss and green roof panels contribute to insulation and biodiversity preservation. The use of both natural and repurposed materials is central to minimizing the project's carbon footprint.

## Spatial Dynamics
### Functional Organization
The design comprises modular housing units that facilitate a blend of living, working, and recreational environments. An open-plan layout enables social interaction and maximizes light access, while integrated retractable furniture promotes spatial efficiency. Personal telescopic hydraulic lifts enhance vertical circulation, addressing accessibility needs and harmonizing with the site’s topography.

### Indoor-Outdoor Interrelation
Large openings within the design facilitate an indoor-outdoor connection, enriching the living experience. Elevated pathways foster mobility and reduce ground disturbance, encouraging a harmonious coexistence with nature.

## Architectural Outcomes
### Biodiversity and Cultural Sensitivity
Ecotone Haven prioritizes enhancing local ecosystems by limiting soil disturbance and incorporating features that promote wildlife habitats. The project advocates for a sustainable lifestyle through energy efficiency and natural ventilation, promoting a culture of environmental stewardship among its residents. Notably, features such as 180-degree panoramic views and flexible micro-unit designs reflect a commitment to enhancing the inhabitants' appreciation of their natural surroundings.

### Innovative Characteristics
This design is characterized by its ability to reestablish a connection between urban life and nature. The integration of elevated designs and pathways invites inhabitants to engage meaningfully with their environment, providing both temporal and permanent living solutions that adapt to user preferences.

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 Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
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
Advance registration deadline 18 February 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
Rome 
Rain Rooms

Design a rain room for Rome

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 14 January 2026
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
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 28 January 2026
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
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

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
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
Advance registration deadline 22 January 2026
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
Final registration deadline 4 February 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