Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Modular Living Spaces Built with Thermal Insulating Concrete Panels and Geometric Patterns

Modular Living Spaces Built with Thermal Insulating Concrete Panels and Geometric Patterns
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed with prefabricated concrete panels that incorporate a triangular pattern for enhanced light diffusion, the design seamlessly adapts to family growth while providing sustainable urban living.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using 1m x 3m modular prefabricated concrete panels for rapid assembly.
02
Incorporates a geometric triangular pattern to optimize natural light distribution.
03
Features a customizable layout that accommodates evolving family needs.
04
Includes a dedicated majlis to promote traditional social gatherings.
05
Designed with thermal insulation properties to improve energy efficiency.

## Project Overview

Located in the United Arab Emirates, the House of the Future addresses contemporary housing needs in urban settings by emphasizing affordability, adaptability, and modularity. The design incorporates a modular approach, permitting the addition of units to cater to growing families and evolving lifestyles while respecting traditional cultural practices. This project represents a methodical response to the complexities of modern living.

## Modular Design Strategy

Central to the project is its modular design, utilizing prefabricated panels measuring 1m x 3m to create customizable cuboidal units. These modules can be arranged in three distinct layouts tailored to the residents’ needs:

1. **Two-bedroom model** with en-suite facilities.
2. **Living and service spaces** divided for distinct daily activities.
3. **Social layout** featuring a dedicated majlis for gatherings and separate entrances.

This modularity fosters flexibility, allowing residents to expand their homes incrementally as requirements change.

## Material Selection and Sustainability

The design emphasizes the use of materials that enhance structural integrity and aesthetic value. Key elements include:

- **Prefabricated Concrete Panels**, chosen for their rapid installation and durability, also providing insulation suited to the UAE’s climate.
- **Concrete Slabs**, which allow for open-plan living while supporting the overall structure.
- **Canvas Roofs** that serve functional purposes for car parking, ensuring waterproofing and thermal regulation.
- **Triangular Pattern Design**, reflecting traditional Islamic geometry, enhances interior light quality and contributes to visually engaging façades.

This material strategy not only supports efficient construction practices but also aligns with sustainable principles, creating a model for future residential developments.

## Spatial Organization and Aesthetics

The layout prioritizes a balance between private and communal living spaces, encouraging social engagement through open-plan arrangements in shared areas while maintaining privacy in designated bedrooms. Flow patterns are carefully articulated to separate guest, family, and service circulation, enhancing comfort and efficiency in shared environments.

The building façades demonstrate a dynamic interplay of solid and void, utilizing triangular patterns to increase natural light and create a cohesive relationship with the surrounding environment. This modern interpretation of traditional design elements acknowledges regional architectural heritage while addressing contemporary needs.

### Landscape Integration

In addition to its aesthetic function, landscaping serves to enhance privacy and foster community interaction. The inclusion of greenery and outdoor spaces contributes not only to the appeal of the project but also to environmental sustainability, reinforcing the overall design intent.

The project's emphasis on future expansion, cultural sensitivity, and sustainability positions it as a significant example of housing solutions tailored for urbanized contexts.

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