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 Metal Facade with Glass and Concrete Elements in a Community-Focused Educational Space

Author:
Wen Bin Liau
Perforated Metal Facade with Glass and Concrete Elements in a Community-Focused Educational Space
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
A perforated metal façade and extensive use of glass create an inviting atmosphere in a community educational facility dedicated to tattoo culture and artistry.
5 key facts about this project
01
Perforated aluminum panels provide natural light while maintaining privacy within the facility.
02
A central void enhances community interaction and serves as a multifunctional gathering space.
03
Extensive use of glass promotes transparency and visibility of activities happening inside.
04
The building's layout integrates interactive art installations, fostering creative engagement.
05
Rooftop venue offers panoramic views, connecting indoor experiences with the urban landscape.

# Analytical Report on the Melbourne Tattoo Academy Project

## Overview

The Melbourne Tattoo Academy is located in the heart of Melbourne, a city noted for its vibrant street art and urban creativity. This facility is designed to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of tattoo culture, serving as an educational hub and a community space that challenges societal perceptions of body art. The architectural intent is to create a platform for dialogue, education, and artistic exploration, highlighting tattoos as a legitimate form of artistic expression.

## Architectural Form and Spatial Organization

The design features a distinct geometric facade that reflects the intricate patterns typical of tattoo art. This exterior is intended to provoke thought and engagement while aligning with the urban artistry characteristic of Melbourne. The building’s internal configuration includes a central void, which acts as a social and interactive core, enabling connections between various functions.

Functional zones are clearly delineated throughout the building to accommodate diverse activities. The ground floor includes an information center and sunken plazas designed for community gatherings. The first floor contains an art gallery and library, providing educational resources for both the public and aspiring tattoo artists. Upper floors are dedicated to workshops and classrooms, promoting skill development and collaboration, while a rooftop restaurant offers a unique perspective of the city and fosters a social environment.

## Materiality and User Experience

Material choices have been carefully selected to fulfill both aesthetic and functional aims. The aluminum façade incorporates intricate perforations that filter natural light while establishing a visual connection with the external environment. Extensive use of glass enhances transparency, promoting openness and encouraging interaction with passersby. Concrete serves as a fundamental element due to its structural integrity and contextual relevance within the urban landscape, complemented by steel elements that support and enhance internal spaces.

Additionally, the design includes interactive components aimed at fostering engagement between users and the environment. Learning spaces and communal areas are strategically integrated to cultivate creativity and collaboration, enhancing the overall experience of visitors and participants alike.

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 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 Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
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

new
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
Early bird registration deadline 5 November 2025
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 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
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