Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Mirror Coating Enhances Compact Living Experience in Small Footprint Home

Author:
Ignacio Uliarte
Mirror Coating Enhances Compact Living Experience in Small Footprint Home
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
A reflective mirror coating enhances the sense of space in this compact living unit, which effectively combines a multifunctional kitchen, innovative storage solutions, and sustainable features for modern residential needs.
5 key facts about this project
01
Reflective mirror coating enhances spatial perception and light within the unit.
02
Modular design supports rapid construction and flexibility for various uses.
03
Compact kitchen includes a combi oven for efficiency in small spaces.
04
Integrated storage solutions maximize functionality without increasing footprint.
05
Sustainable features include greywater reuse systems and solar energy options.

The Tiny House project illustrates a practical approach to modern living, designed to meet the needs of people in increasingly crowded areas. It functions as a flexible space suitable for permanent homes, vacation properties, or temporary housing solutions. The design revolves around a modular structure that measures 22.5 m², making efficient use of limited space while maintaining essential living functions.

MODULAR ARRANGEMENT

The layout utilizes a Plug and Play concept, allowing for straightforward construction and adaptability to various settings. The space is divided into three main areas: a living-kitchen area, a bathroom, and a bedroom. Each section is distinct but interconnected, enhancing the overall movement within the house. This arrangement promotes a balance between privacy in personal areas and openness in communal spaces, catering to the demands of contemporary lifestyles.

REFLECTIVE ELEMENTS

An interesting feature of the design is the use of a mirror coating along the walls. This reflective treatment plays an important role in the design by increasing the sense of space and light within the interior. It creates a lively atmosphere, making the compact area feel larger and more inviting. The choice of this treatment emphasizes both aesthetics and the functional needs of the space.

KITCHEN EFFICIENCY

In the kitchen area, functionality is a key focus. Important appliances, such as a two-plate stove, a combi oven, and a refrigerator located under the sink, are arranged carefully. This organization facilitates easy movement and cooking, showing that even small kitchens can be efficient and user-friendly. Thoughtful planning ensures that daily activities can be carried out comfortably in this compact setting.

CLEVER STORAGE SOLUTIONS

The bedroom includes practical storage options, featuring a double bed with six drawers concealed underneath. This feature maximizes the use of space while providing necessary storage. Other functional aspects include reading lamps, charging ports, and a desk at the foot of the bed. These elements allow the space to adapt to various activities, supporting both relaxation and work needs without taking up additional room.

The bathroom is designed with a wet area that includes a shower behind two glass doors, which can be sealed to maintain privacy. An upper window allows fresh air and natural light into the space, enhancing the overall comfort of this compact home.

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