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Patterns in WPC and Timber Elements Blending with Wetland Views

Author:
Jenny Gray
Patterns in WPC and Timber Elements Blending with Wetland Views
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Inspired by the elegant forms of flamingos and utilizing a slender timber and steel frame, the design integrates seamlessly with the surrounding wetlands to create an interactive viewing tower for visitors.
5 key facts about this project
01
Inspired by the patterns formed by flamingos in wetlands.
02
Integrates viewing terraces to enhance landscape interaction.
03
Constructed with a unique wood plastic composite for durability.
04
Features shaded areas with openings for varied sightlines.
05
Incorporates an internal desert garden for a diverse ecosystem.

The Framingo is positioned within a wetland reserve and designed to enhance the experience of visitors while interacting with its natural surroundings. The tower takes cues from the local ecosystem, particularly the graceful shapes of flamingos, and translates these influences into a functional structure. Its design integrates elevated platforms and pathways that promote exploration while blending with the environment.

Design Concept

The design concept focuses on reflecting the natural pathways seen in the wetlands, particularly the delicate grass stems surrounding water bodies. The base and ramp of the tower guide visitors toward raised terraces, and ramps lined with slender timber sticks create a feeling of walking through grasslands. This element provides a direct connection between the architecture and the landscape.

Structural Elements

The slender frame extending from the highest viewing platform resembles the elegant legs of flamingos. This design choice strengthens the relationship between the building and the natural inspiration behind it. The patterns formed by flamingos when they gather are mirrored in the overall structure, adding visual interest and reinforcing its connection to the surrounding environment.

Materiality

The Framingo features a primary steel frame that offers structural support. This frame rests on a thick concrete raft slab, ensuring stability. A secondary frame is made from wood plastic composite, which includes a patterned metal mesh interlay. WPC is also used for decking, platforms, ramps, and stairs. This material choice promotes consistency across components while allowing for efficient construction practices.

Spatial Experience

The design encourages movement with elevated platforms that allow visitors to connect with the ecosystem. Open and shaded areas throughout the structure provide various experiences, inviting exploration and interaction with the environment. The thoughtful arrangement of spaces emphasizes the design’s lightness and elegance, reflecting the essence of the wetlands.

Significant design elements include shaded areas with openings that create different viewpoints. These features enhance visitor experiences while complementing an internal desert garden, fostering moments of reflection in a natural setting.

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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.

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