Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Perforated Brick Facade and Lightwells Define a Community Library Space

Authors:
Rachel Hurst, Katarina Jovanovic
Perforated Brick Facade and Lightwells Define a Community Library Space
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
A perforated brick façade combined with strategically placed lightwells creates a dynamic interplay of light and shadow in a community library designed to foster reflection and knowledge sharing.
5 key facts about this project
01
Perforated brickwork provides natural ventilation and light control while honoring local building traditions.
02
Central courtyards facilitate community interaction and enhance spatial connectivity.
03
Lightwells throughout the structure create dynamic lighting conditions for interior spaces.
04
Subterranean memorial areas connect historical narrative with modern library functions.
05
Material choices focus on sustainability, featuring locally sourced bricks and efficient structural components.

**Overview**

The Bombing Rooms Memorial Library, situated in Casablanca, Morocco, serves as a contemporary venue for knowledge and reflection, addressing the community's need for both educational resources and a space for commemoration. The design integrates historical context with modern architectural techniques, creating an environment that honors the memory of individuals affected by past conflicts while fostering community engagement.

**Architectural Composition and Spatial Strategy**

The building's design is inspired by traditional Moroccan architecture, featuring a façade characterized by intricate brick patterns. This aesthetic not only enhances visual appeal but also promotes climate adaptability through natural ventilation. The library’s prominent volume is intended to establish it as a landmark within the urban landscape.

Internally, strategic voids connect various areas and facilitate communal gatherings, while subterranean memorial spaces provide contemplation on historical events. The layout incorporates reading rooms, study areas, and exhibition spaces, all designed to encourage fluid movement and social interaction. Open vertical courtyards allow for natural light and modified airflow, transforming the library into an interactive community hub.

**Materiality and Sustainability**

The choice of materials is critical to the building's design narrative. The extensive use of brick, symbolizing strength and vulnerability, features perforations that permit light penetration while ensuring privacy. Concrete elements provide structural stability, while glass enhances transparency and connection to the outdoor environment. Steel supports and complements the traditional materials, bringing a contemporary aspect to the overall aesthetic.

These material selections are reflective of sustainable practices and emphasize local craftsmanship, reinforcing the library's integration within Casablanca's urban setting. The interplay of materials contributes to an atmosphere that not only respects the past but also embraces a forward-looking ethos within the community.

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

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
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
Final registration deadline 4 February 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
Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #8 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
Early bird registration deadline 25 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