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Kinetic Facades and Natural Ventilation in Sustainable Residential Design

Kinetic Facades and Natural Ventilation in Sustainable Residential Design
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Dynamic kinetic facades enhance natural ventilation while integrating sustainable materials such as concrete and glass to create an environmentally responsive residence.
5 key facts about this project
01
Adaptive kinetic facades adjust to sunlight for optimal comfort and energy efficiency.
02
Integrated solar panels provide renewable energy, reducing reliance on traditional power sources.
03
Natural ventilation systems enhance indoor air quality while minimizing energy consumption.
04
Cavity walls enhance thermal insulation, supporting climate resilience in a desert environment.
05
Flexible spatial organization allows for varied configurations based on specific land plots.

### Project Overview
The House of the Future is located in Dubai, UAE, and addresses contemporary living requirements while prioritizing sustainability and adaptability within the region's distinct climatic and cultural framework. The design merges modern aesthetics with cutting-edge technologies to create a residential environment that is both luxurious and environmentally conscious.

### Spatial Strategy and Organization
The design employs a 3D zoning approach for spatial organization, effectively distributing living, dining, and private areas while optimizing service integration, such as kitchens and bathrooms. Vertical circulation is enhanced through strategically positioned staircases, promoting fluid movement between levels while maintaining a compact footprint that allows for ample outdoor space. The layout adapts to varied land plots, offering flexibility in design that accommodates standalone villas, twin villas, and townhouses.

### Material Selection and Energy Efficiency
Materiality is pivotal to the project's integrity, with a focus on durability and energy efficiency. Concrete serves as the primary structural element, providing both strength and thermal mass. Extensive use of glass facilitates natural daylight and creates transparency between indoor and outdoor environments, while wood is incorporated in finishes, contributing warmth to the overall aesthetic. Advanced features such as kinetic handrails and vertical louvers enhance natural ventilation and sunlight regulation, reducing reliance on artificial cooling systems. Additionally, cavity walls improve insulation, maintaining cooler indoor temperatures during the summer months.

Sustainability measures include the installation of solar panels for harnessing renewable energy, daylight sensors that optimize internal lighting, and adaptive kinetic facades that improve energy efficiency and occupant well-being. The design strategically addresses the desert climate through careful orientation, minimizing heat gain, and incorporating shading devices that enhance thermal comfort indoors.

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20,000 USD Prize
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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

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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

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
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The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

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Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025
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Design slow sauna in Iceland

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Early bird registration deadline 26 November 2025
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Design a concrete pavilion

Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
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Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025
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Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
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Early bird registration deadline 21 January 2026

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Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

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Final registration deadline 13 November 2025
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Design a safe and supportive space to those struggling with a terminal illness

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Choose a site—used, abandoned, or forgotten—anywhere in the world, and give it a new purpose

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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

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