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Modular Living Spaces Enhanced with Sustainable Sandwich Panels and Desert-Integrated Design

Modular Living Spaces Enhanced with Sustainable Sandwich Panels and Desert-Integrated Design
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Utilizing sustainable sandwich panels and a network of circular posts, the design integrates modular living spaces within a desert environment, promoting community interaction and ecological responsibility.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes a grid system of circular posts for structural support, minimizing foundation impact.
02
Features sustainable sandwich panels that enhance insulation and energy efficiency.
03
Incorporates rainwater harvesting systems to support ecological autonomy.
04
Designed with flexible modular configurations to adapt to community needs.
05
Integrates community gardens to promote biodiversity and food self-sufficiency.

**Overview**

The "Entre Deux" housing project addresses contemporary challenges related to urbanization and environmental sustainability within a rural desert context. Designed to revitalize these areas, the project aims to enhance local ecosystems while providing adaptable living spaces that minimize ecological footprints and combat issues such as land pressure and biodiversity loss due to suburban sprawl.

**Biomimetic Design and Community Focus**

Incorporating principles of biomimicry, the project emphasizes light, modular structures that facilitate adaptability and community cohesion. Configurations allow flexibility according to communal needs, with shared spaces intentionally designed to foster social interaction and support biodiversity. The emphasis on ecological autonomy is evident through features such as rainwater recovery systems and solar energy integration.

**Materiality and Structural Innovation**

Material selection plays a crucial role in the project's sustainability goals. Lightweight sandwich panels, solar units, and integrated water recycling systems contribute to energy efficiency and resource management. The structural design employs a grid system with circular posts and beams that reduce the need for extensive foundations, preserving the natural landscape. Prefabricated components enable efficient construction and site assembly, while structural bracing utilizes tie rods to enhance stability without compromising environmental integrity.

This project includes urban-integrating elements such as embedded vegetable gardens to encourage biodiversity, a network circulation system for water management, and thoughtfully arranged shared spaces that enhance community engagement. The architectural form aligns visually with the surrounding landscape, creating a harmonious aesthetic connection between the built and natural environments.

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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
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The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

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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

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