Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Fire-Resistant Units with Corrugated Metal and Timber Frames for Flexible Living

Authors:
Aslı Zeynep Dogan, Canberk Kocaoglu, Ecem Kulubecioglu, Helin Bingöl
Fire-Resistant Units with Corrugated Metal and Timber Frames for Flexible Living
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed with fire-resistant materials and a modular design, the units provide adaptable living spaces that cater to contemporary communal and private needs.
5 key facts about this project
01
Modular units designed for quick assembly and future reconfiguration.
02
Utilizes fire-resistant materials to enhance safety and durability.
03
Incorporates an interactive online platform for user-defined customization.
04
Strategically balances communal areas with private living spaces.
05
Designed for optimal thermal performance with integrated insulation systems.

The project presented under the brand DE.SET.LI.FE focuses on modular residential design that emphasizes adaptability and personalization. Situated in a context where flexible living arrangements are increasingly important, this initiative offers a solution that empowers individuals to customize their homes according to their preferences. The design integrates prefabricated units that can be quickly assembled, allowing occupants to tailor their living spaces in a way that suits contemporary lifestyles.

Design Concept

The architectural focus is on modularity, allowing for a variety of unit configurations that meet different functional needs. Service units, such as the staircase, circulation, and WC units, fulfill essential roles while improving accessibility within the overall living environment. The layout effectively balances communal areas with private spaces. This arrangement helps residents interact with one another while still enjoying their own privacy.

Materiality

Key materials enhance the structural integrity and environmental efficiency of the design. Corrugated metal sheets create a sturdy facade that is fire-resistant and recyclable. Timber frames provide solid support for the structure, ensuring durability. Fire-resistant gypsum boards contribute to safety across all areas of the building. Rockwool insulation improves the thermal performance, making the units comfortable and energy-efficient. Additionally, steel frame structures with a box profile offer necessary strength to endure diverse weather conditions.

Sustainability Initiatives

Sustainability plays an important role in the project, highlighted by the inclusion of renewable energy systems and water management strategies. These features aim to reduce the environmental impact and promote efficient resource use. The modular design allows for quick assembly while also accommodating future changes in layout. This flexibility caters to the needs of a diverse and mobile population, enhancing the overall livability of the environment.

User Engagement

Residents can engage with the design through an online platform that allows them to define various aspects of their living spaces, such as location, budget, and room types. This approach encourages individuals to take an active role in shaping their homes. By allowing for personalization in the design process, the concept fosters a living experience that integrates both personal comfort and community needs.

The arrangement of common rooms alongside private bedrooms is thoughtfully designed, creating a warm atmosphere that invites social interaction while maintaining a sense of individual space.

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