Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Embracing Invisibility Through Intimate Patios and Concrete Walls

Author:
Shirley Levy
Embracing Invisibility Through Intimate Patios and Concrete Walls
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed with concrete and warm wood, the design features intimate patios that enhance sensory engagement, creating a serene residential environment in the bustling urban context of Jaffa.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design incorporates small patios that act as sound buffers from the urban environment.
02
Concrete walls provide durability while allowing for focused sensory experiences.
03
The layout emphasizes haptic feedback through varied flooring materials.
04
Natural ventilation and scented plants enhance the sensory quality of the interior.
05
The inward-facing design promotes intimacy and tranquility in a densely populated area.

The House of Invisibility is located in a small alley in Jaffa, an area known for its dense urban landscape. The design aims to explore the idea of invisibility, focusing on how spaces can be perceived without relying on sight. By engaging the senses of sound, touch, and smell, the house creates an immersive environment for its residents, allowing them to experience their surroundings on multiple levels. The layout emphasizes inward-facing spaces, offering a quiet retreat from the activity of the city.

Inward-Facing Spaces
The design features a courtyard topology that enhances privacy and tranquility within the home. Small patios are incorporated into the layout, providing a buffer between the inner spaces and the noisy city outside. This inward focus creates a sense of intimacy, allowing the occupants to feel sheltered and connected to the natural elements, while also promoting a peaceful atmosphere.

Spatial Organization
The home is divided into two key zones: one area designed for specific household functions and another serving as a pathway around the inner patio. This organization encourages movement throughout the residence and highlights the distinction between active and passive spaces. In the functional areas, warm wooden elements contribute to a welcoming environment, while polished concrete is used in the circulation zones to delineate between different types of spaces.

Sensory Engagement
A central aspect of the design is its focus on sensory experiences. Movement plays a crucial role in how residents interact with their surroundings. The change in materials—from the polished concrete underfoot to the warmth of the wooden finishes—enhances the tactile experience of moving through the space. Each step brings a new sensation, allowing inhabitants to connect with their environment on a physical level.

Natural Elements
Natural elements are woven into the design to enrich the experience further. For example, the feeling of wind on the skin acts as an additional boundary that defines the space. The use of scented plants throughout the residence adds an olfactory dimension, helping occupants navigate their environment and fostering a deeper connection with the house.

Narrow windows punctuate the concrete facade, allowing filtered light while maintaining privacy for the inhabitants. This thoughtful approach affirms the design's commitment to creating a serene interior without losing touch with the busy urban landscape outside.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

`
Competition organisers

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 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

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 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
Early bird registration deadline 15 October 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 October 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025
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
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

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