Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Knowledge Hubs for Cultural Exchange in Desert Ecology

Authors:
Nathan Stanfield, Ruth Blair Moyers
Knowledge Hubs for Cultural Exchange in Desert Ecology
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Six interconnected libraries and community hubs designed for knowledge exchange and cultural dialogue in the context of desert ecology serve as a proactive response to resource challenges and societal inclusivity.
5 key facts about this project
01
Egalitarian model features six interconnected libraries.
02
Design supports both Earth and orbital habitation.
03
Public and private hubs encourage community involvement.
04
Focus on cultural reconciliation related to historical injustices.
05
Emphasizes learning from desert ecology for sustainable practices.

The Pavilion is designed to explore humanity's connection with space, set in West Texas, a region known for its history in aerospace endeavors. The structure aims to foster a community-oriented environment that emphasizes ecological responsibility, the sharing of knowledge, and a recognition of cultural histories. The Pavilion envisions a future where humanity may need to live beyond Earth, preparing for challenges through thoughtful architectural solutions.

Egalitarian Organization

At the heart of the Pavilion is a decentralized structure featuring six interconnected libraries. These spaces connect with various residential hubs within the design. The private hubs are large and stable, symbolizing community strength and support. They serve as homes for librarians who manage resources. In contrast, the public libraries are smaller and adaptable, designed to encourage flexibility and the exchange of knowledge. Together, these elements highlight key aspects of human existence: SEED, CULTURE, and TECHNOLOGY.

Ecological Sustainability

The design recognizes the urgent issue of diminishing resources, proposing that the Pavilion could function on Earth or in orbit around it. Its success relies on how well humanity cares for its surroundings. By taking lessons from Earth's environmental struggles, the Pavilion seeks sustainable practices for potential living conditions beyond our planet. The surrounding desert ecology offers valuable lessons in resilience, influencing how the design adapts to various challenges.

Cultural Engagement

Culturally, the Pavilion addresses important historical and social themes, especially those related to injustices at the U.S.-Mexico border. By creating a welcoming space for diverse cultures, the design encourages dialogue and healing. This emphasis on inclusion aims to make the Pavilion a center for mutual support and understanding, allowing different communities to connect and collaborate.

Materiality and Design Intent

While the presentation does not specify particular materials used, the focus remains on the conceptual design rather than physical elements. The principles guiding the Pavilion prioritize functionality and meaningful interaction with the space. Each decision aims to help visitors engage with the ideas presented, using the varied spaces to learn and share knowledge.

From the connections between its libraries to the inviting areas for collaboration, every aspect of the Pavilion’s design supports its mission of preparing humanity for new possibilities in the universe.

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