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 Footbridges and Bamboo Structures for Adaptive Urban Living

Authors:
Christian Francis Hernandez, Charishma Hunjan, Victor Limpawuchara
Kinetic Footbridges and Bamboo Structures for Adaptive Urban Living
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Harnessing kinetic energy through footbridge-integrated walkways and utilizing bamboo for modular housing, this development reflects a comprehensive approach to flexible urban living.
5 key facts about this project
01
The project incorporates kinetic tiles that generate energy from foot traffic.
02
Bamboo is used extensively as a sustainable primary structural element.
03
Modular design allows for flexible unit configurations tailored to residents' needs.
04
Translucent polycarbonate panels enhance natural lighting while maintaining privacy.
05
Community nodes provide shared spaces that integrate residential and retail functions.

## Project Overview
Located in the densely populated urban environment of Hong Kong, "Multiplicity" addresses critical challenges of space constraints, accessibility, and community integration through an innovative housing design. The intent is to create adaptable living spaces that cater to the diverse needs of residents while optimizing the use of existing infrastructure, such as footbridges, to enhance connectivity between neighborhoods and encourage the efficient use of green spaces.

## Modular Framework
The project's modular design employs a grid-like structure based on 8x8 tiles, permitting configurations that maximize space utilization and adaptability. This system facilitates future modifications, allowing residents to personalize their living environments as their requirements evolve. The placement of strategically designed nodes with vertical cores fosters interaction among housing units, retail areas, and public amenities.

### Key Features:
- **Modular Configuration**: Each housing unit can be individually expanded, promoting flexibility for various family sizes and lifestyles.
- **Connectivity**: The design interlinks with existing urban infrastructure to enhance community accessibility and mobility.

## Communal Nodes and Sustainability
Central to the framework are "nodes," which act as communal spaces under 100 square meters that integrate housing with public areas, retail, and community interactions. These nodes support vertical expansion, maximizing land use in the limited horizontal space available.

### Distinctive Aspects:
- **Vertical Growth**: The design allows for upward development, mitigating the constraints of horizontal expansion.
- **Interconnected Community**: Nodes facilitate connections among different community sections, fostering a sense of belonging.

## Design Materiality
The choice of materials reflects a commitment to sustainability and economic viability. Notable materials include:
- **Bamboo Framework**: Chosen for its strength and sustainability, providing a lightweight structural support system.
- **Recycled Corrugated Metal**: Offers durability while maintaining cost-effectiveness for external finishes.
- **Translucent Polycarbonate Panels**: Allow natural light penetration and privacy, contributing to an aesthetically pleasing facade.

This material selection underscores the project's focus on creating a functional, visually appealing residential environment while adhering to sustainable practices.

## Design Outcomes
The design incorporates public and green spaces to enhance social interactions and promote well-being. Features such as kinetic tiles in walkways convert foot traffic into energy, exemplifying the initiative's emphasis on sustainable living.

### Notable Outcomes:
- **Integration of Spaces**: Private residential areas are thoughtfully connected to public nodes, fostering community interaction.
- **Energy Generation**: Innovative use of technology in public spaces underlines the commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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 Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
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

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 Home of 
Shadows

Design a home with no artificial lighting

The light studies. Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 14 January 2026
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
MICROHOME 2026

Design a new concept of small-scale home and share a prize fund of 100,000€

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 11 February 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