Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Kinetic Facades and Natural Wood Elements Enhance Contemporary Residential Living

Kinetic Facades and Natural Wood Elements Enhance Contemporary Residential Living
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Employing kinetic facades of perforated aluminum and integrating low-emissivity glass, this contemporary residential design balances energy efficiency with cultural expression to create adaptable living spaces for multi-generational families.
5 key facts about this project
01
Kinetic facades adjust to environmental conditions, enhancing natural ventilation and energy efficiency.
02
Perforated aluminum panels incorporate traditional Islamic patterns while providing privacy and light modulation.
03
A central atrium features a vertical garden, promoting indoor biodiversity and connection to nature.
04
Low-emissivity glass minimizes heat gain, addressing the challenges of the local climate.
05
The design accommodates a multi-generational layout, allowing flexible use of communal and private spaces.

### Overview
Located in the United Arab Emirates, this residential design integrates cultural elements with modern architectural techniques. The intent is to create a living environment that evolves with its inhabitants while addressing local climate challenges and promoting sustainability and individuality through customizable spaces.

### Spatial Configuration and Functionality
The layout is organized into three distinct blocks: the Front, Central, and Back. The Front Block serves as the entry, welcoming guests and family. The Central Block acts as the core of the home, featuring communal areas such as the Majlis, which adapt to various activities throughout the day. In contrast, the Back Block prioritizes privacy, accommodating bedrooms and personal spaces. This arrangement allows for a thoughtful separation of communal interactions and private time, facilitating both open connection and personal retreat, suitable for modern Emirati families that often include multiple generations.

### Material Selection and Sustainable Strategies
The project employs several strategic materials to enhance comfort and energy efficiency. Stucco is utilized for the facade, providing insulation, while perforated aluminum adds aesthetic value and enhances ventilation. Low-E glass minimizes heat transfer, which is vital in the hot climate. The design incorporates automated wind towers for natural ventilation, decreasing reliance on mechanical cooling systems, and solar panels to harness renewable energy.

The automated kinetic facades are a prominent feature, adjusting based on light exposure and user preferences, thereby optimizing energy performance. Inspired by traditional Islamic geometric patterns, these facades not only serve functional purposes but also enrich the visual experience of the dwelling. An internal Artuim facilitates communal interaction and houses a vertical garden, connecting interior spaces with nature.

### Landscaping and Community Engagement
Landscaping plays a crucial role in the project, featuring gardens and community areas that foster social interaction among residents. The design adheres to local building codes while enhancing the livability of the community through manageable green spaces. This consideration for landscaping complements the architectural objectives, supporting both environmental sustainability and communal engagement.

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