Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Floating Habitat with Cross-Laminated Timber and Vegetated Roof Integration

Floating Habitat with Cross-Laminated Timber and Vegetated Roof Integration
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Elevated on wooden piles, this floating habitat combines cross-laminated timber with a lush vegetated roof to create a sustainable living environment designed for an adaptable coastal future.
5 key facts about this project
01
Elevated structure allows for adaptability to changing water levels.
02
Incorporates a vegetated roof that enhances insulation and biodiversity.
03
Utilizes charred wooden shingles for weather resistance and aesthetics.
04
Features modular construction for flexibility in design and location.
05
Designed to promote a strong connection between indoor and outdoor environments.

## Overview

The Lakeside Home Project is situated in coastal regions vulnerable to rising water levels associated with climate change. It aims to provide a resilient living solution that addresses environmental challenges while promoting long-term sustainability. The design integrates innovative architectural elements and natural ecosystems to create a modular habitat, adaptable to the evolving coastline.

## Spatial Strategy

The project features a circular form reminiscent of sailboat hulls, which enhances aerodynamic performance and reduces wind resistance—key considerations for coastal structures. Its foundation consists of lightweight wooden piles, allowing for flexibility in response to environmental conditions. The modular design enables the structure to be customized for various landscapes and ecological contexts, addressing both aesthetic and functional requirements.

### Material Selection and Environmental Integration

A selection of sustainable materials underpins the structural integrity and environmental performance of the home. Key components include:

- **Wood**: Utilized for its lightweight and renewable properties, providing a sustainable framework.
- **Metal Cladding**: Offers enhanced weather resistance, supporting the longevity of the structure.
- **Insulation**: Blown-in materials contribute to thermal efficiency and waterproofing.
- **Composite and Resin**: Improve airtightness and durability, ensuring minimal energy loss.
- **Vegetated Rooftop**: Functions as insulation and habitat, promoting biodiversity and enhancing the building's ecological footprint.

The design also incorporates living systems, such as roof gardens and potential aquaponics, reinforcing the project's commitment to sustainable integration with the environment while fostering a healthy ecosystem.

### Adaptability and Resilience

The Lakeside Home is engineered to adapt to fluctuating water levels, allowing it to remain functional in the face of climate-related changes. This adaptability is a key aspect of its design philosophy, presenting a practical solution for future coastal living. The structure is intended to serve not only as a residence but also as a dynamic entity that interacts with its surroundings, supporting the preservation of local ecosystems while addressing the complexities of life in a changing climate.

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