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Honeycomb Vent Bricks and Sustainable AAC Blocks Define a Climate-Responsive Residence

Honeycomb Vent Bricks and Sustainable AAC Blocks Define a Climate-Responsive Residence
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Crafted with honeycomb vent bricks and AAC blocks, this residence offers optimal thermal comfort and ventilation, serving as a functional family home in a challenging climate.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using honeycomb vent bricks that enhance passive cooling.
02
Utilizes AAC blocks for lightweight thermal insulation and energy efficiency.
03
Incorporates courtyards to promote cross ventilation and reduce heat.
04
Features a traditional *almajlis* space that reflects local cultural values.
05
Designed to harmonize with the challenging climate while maintaining comfort.

### Project Overview
The Honey Comb House is located in the Middle East, designed to respond effectively to the region's challenging climate while prioritizing sustainability and functionality. This residential dwelling integrates local materials that reflect cultural identity and employs passive environmental strategies to enhance thermal comfort and energy efficiency.

### Spatial Arrangement and Functional Zoning
The layout of the Honey Comb House is organized into three distinct zones to optimize privacy and utility:

- **Guest Zone**: Comprised of an *almajlis*, office, pantry, and washroom, this area caters to hospitality needs.

- **Family Zone**: Serving as the core of domestic life, this central space includes living areas, a pool, dining room, and bedrooms to facilitate family interactions.

- **Service Zone**: This functional component houses the kitchen, laundry, maid's room, driver’s room, and storage, ensuring efficient household operations.

The design incorporates transitional courtyards between these zones, enhancing airflow and reducing heat transfer through strategically placed wind tunnels that promote cross-ventilation, thereby decreasing the need for mechanical cooling.

### Materials and Environmental Considerations
The Honey Comb House utilizes locally sourced materials known for their sustainability attributes and thermal performance. Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks form the primary wall structure, providing high thermal insulation and energy efficiency due to their lightweight nature.

Local clay vent bricks, designed in a honeycomb pattern, offer aesthetic appeal while facilitating ventilation. Additional thermal insulation enhances the building's energy efficiency, contributing to a comfortable indoor climate. The integration of honeycomb vent blocks serves to promote passive cooling by allowing airflow while minimizing direct sunlight exposure, aligning the design with the climatic conditions of the region.

The project further incorporates large openings and glass elements to create visual connections to outdoor spaces, fostering an indoor-outdoor living experience. Shallow reflective water features contribute to both the aesthetic value and functional cooling of the interior spaces.

The overall interior design emphasizes fluidity and openness, utilizing natural materials, colors, and textures to cultivate a warm and inviting atmosphere while ensuring practical usability and a modern aesthetic that honors local cultural elements.

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The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

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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

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