Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Enhancing Community Connectivity Through Vertical Communication and Natural Light

Authors:
Neritan Duka, Alin Alexandru Ciobotaru
Enhancing Community Connectivity Through Vertical Communication and Natural Light
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
The incorporation of vertical communication elements enhances accessibility between apartment blocks while maximizing natural light, creating an inviting residential community designed to improve quality of life.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design incorporates a railway tunnel that effectively reduces urban noise.
02
Widened windows enhance natural light and improve views for residents.
03
Vertical communication elements connect apartment blocks, fostering accessibility.
04
Additional apartments are strategically placed above existing structures.
05
The layout promotes a diverse mix of residential unit sizes for various households.

The project centers around the concept of "Architecture Metamorphosis," aiming to improve an urban environment significantly affected by noise. Located in a busy area, the goal is to enhance the quality of life for residents. The design focuses on addressing aesthetic and functional aspects, creating a more connected and accessible community while considering environmental factors.

Foundation for Change
The first step involves building a railway tunnel to reduce noise from nearby transit routes. This significant addition directly tackles the sound concerns that impact daily living. It establishes a base for subsequent improvements throughout the area.



Maximizing Natural Light
Next, the design suggests widening the windows in existing buildings. This change will increase the amount of natural light inside. By allowing more sunlight in, the living spaces become brighter and more pleasant, while also offering better views of the surroundings.



Connecting the Community
The incorporation of vertical communication elements between the apartment blocks is meant to improve accessibility. This design choice encourages more interactions among residents, helping to foster a sense of community. With easier navigation, people can engage with their neighbors and experience a more connected environment.



Diverse Living Options
The plan includes varied residential units to meet the needs of different-sized households. Options range from 2-person flats to larger 5-person units. This variety ensures the housing fits a broad segment of the community, making the development inclusive and responsive to diverse living arrangements.



The layout features living rooms combined with kitchens, effectively promoting a practical flow within the flats. Balconies serve not just as spaces to relax outdoors, but as extensions of the interior, encouraging outdoor living and enhancing the residential experience.

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