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 With Cascading Green Roofs and Natural Light

Author:
Gautam Bhatia
Elevated Living With Cascading Green Roofs and Natural Light

Project in-detail

Cascading green roofs elevate living spaces while maximizing natural light and fostering community engagement in this innovative residential development.
5 key facts about this project
01
Cascading roofs create layered outdoor spaces for residents.
02
Inclined forms enhance sight lines and natural ventilation.
03
Private gardens incorporated into each unit promote biodiversity.
04
Operable trellises facilitate customizable outdoor experiences.
05
Maximized daylight through strategic window placements enhances interiors.

The Groundscraper presents a fresh approach to urban living, located in a vibrant urban setting. It redefines the typical skyscraper concept, which usually features vertically stacked floors, by merging vertical elements with horizontal spaces. This design allows for greater community interaction and connection to the environment, creating a more welcoming atmosphere for residents.

Vertical and Horizontal Integration

The design cleverly balances horizontal and vertical elements, moving beyond the limitations of traditional skyscrapers. The inclined shapes promote direct relationships with the ground and the surrounding horizon. This thoughtful configuration helps to cultivate a sense of community by encouraging social interactions among residents and their neighbors. It offers a new perspective on how urban spaces can function in harmony.

Ecological Roofscape

One of the key features of the Groundscraper is its unique roof system, which has a cascading design that combines beauty and function. The roof landscape is not just decorative; it integrates nature into the architecture, providing spaces for greenery and outdoor activities. This approach promotes environmental awareness while enhancing the overall urban experience. The design prioritizes a sustainable future, showing a commitment to integrating green spaces within the city.

Light and Space

Natural light is a major consideration in the overall design, with each apartment organized to maximize daylight. This creates a sense of openness in the living spaces. The careful arrangement of windows and roof angles allows for abundant light, making each room feel connected to the outdoors.

Private gardens and operable trellises extend the living area outside, offering residents opportunities to engage with their surroundings more fully. These elements deepen the relationship between people and nature, enriching the overall experience of urban living. Residents can enjoy the benefits of fresh air and greenery right outside their doors, making the environment more vibrant and alive.

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

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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