Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Panoramic Green Space Framed by Steel and Black Locust Slats

Author:
Lorenzo Maso
Panoramic Green Space Framed by Steel and Black Locust Slats
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Framed by black locust slats and enhanced by a panoramic terrace, the Kurgi Observation Tower serves as a community hub that encourages engagement with the natural surroundings.
5 key facts about this project
01
Framed entirely with black locust slats for enhanced sustainability.
02
Includes a panoramic terrace that prioritizes user engagement with the landscape.
03
Designed with a steel bearing structure for flexible internal configurations.
04
Incorporates energy-efficient rock wool insulation to improve thermal performance.
05
Features a combination of internal wood finishes and external black panels for contrast.

The Kurgi Observation Tower, known as the Green Fibonacci Tower, is located in an area that offers broad views of the surrounding landscape. It serves as both an observation point and a community space for visitors. The design highlights a connection to nature and creates an open environment where people can gather and enjoy their surroundings.

Design Concept
-
The main characteristic of the tower is its panoramic terrace, which invites visitors to take in the sights from a higher vantage point. This feature not only enhances the experience of observing the landscape but also encourages social interaction. The internal layout of the tower allows for easy movement and accessibility, with both stairs and an elevator seamlessly incorporated into the design.

Materiality
-
Materials used in the Kurgi Observation Tower play a significant role in its overall structure and appearance. Black locust slats add to the visual appeal while ensuring sustainability. The steel bearing structure gives the building the necessary strength to support various configurations, contributing to a modern look that is both functional and visually appealing.

Sustainability Features
-
Energy efficiency is a key consideration in this design. Rock wool insulation improves thermal performance, making the building comfortable year-round. The multilayer wooden load-bearing panels add durability and strength. The use of airtight shoots and fiberglass insulation helps in conserving energy, aligning with contemporary practices focused on sustainability.

Structural Details
-
The combination of internal wood finishes and external black panels creates a cohesive and balanced appearance. Safety is addressed through glass railings, which offer protection while keeping the views unobstructed. T-shaped steel anchors, along with secondary and primary steel beams, provide crucial support, allowing for the tower's unique architectural shape.

The design integrates green spaces, inviting visitors to engage with the natural environment. This thoughtful layout emphasizes both function and environmental awareness, ensuring that the Kurgi Observation Tower is a meaningful addition to its landscape.

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 Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
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
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026

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
Rome 
Rain Rooms

Design a rain room for Rome

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 14 January 2026
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
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 28 January 2026
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
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

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
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
Advance registration deadline 22 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