Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Plexiglass Walls and Steel Structure Create Inviting Reading Spaces

Authors:
Albert Manhertz, Lilla Bukovácz
Plexiglass Walls and Steel Structure Create Inviting Reading Spaces
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Transparent plexiglass walls and a robust steel frame create a portable library that enhances community engagement with literature in urban park settings.
5 key facts about this project
01
Library Quarter includes weatherproof walls and doors for optimal protection and comfort.
02
Reading Quarters feature transparent plexiglass walls for natural light and environmental connection.
03
Bike Quarter integrates a structural steel strip that doubles as a bike rack to promote sustainable transport.
04
The design employs ground screws for a minimal site disturbance and easy setup.
05
Modular configuration allows for flexible use in various urban settings, enhancing community accessibility.

The Jurta Project is an architectural effort that reinterprets the traditional yurt to create portable reading rooms aimed at urban and recreational settings. Located in parks and public areas near larger cities, it focuses on enhancing community interaction with literature. The design emphasizes mobility and accessibility, inviting users to experience reading in a welcoming atmosphere.

Library Quarter

The Library Quarter acts as a dedicated module that shifts the conventional book exchange box into a library. It features walls and doors for protection against the elements, encouraging visitors to browse and select books at their leisure. This design enhances the user experience by providing a comfortable and sheltered environment that fosters a natural curiosity for reading.



Reading Quarters

The Reading Quarters consist of two distinct variations, each designed for different user experiences. Reading Quarter A includes transparent plexiglass walls that promote a serene environment while allowing plenty of natural light. This setup helps create a direct link between readers and their surroundings, enhancing the enjoyment of a book. On the other hand, Reading Quarter B offers an open design, encouraging a closer connection to the outdoor space. This allows readers to feel immersed in nature while they focus on their reading.



Bike Quarter

The Bike Quarter is a practical addition that combines functionality with visual appeal. A steel strip serves as structural support and doubles as a bike rack. This design choice accommodates visitors who arrive on bicycles, promoting sustainable travel options. By integrating these essential details, the Bike Quarter enhances usability and adds to the overall functionality of the reading rooms.



The Jurta Project incorporates several materials to support its design goals. The roof is constructed with a 3 mm powder-coated stainless steel sheet, ensuring durability. Transparent white plexiglass forms the walls of the Library Quarter and Reading Quarter A, aiding in sound reduction while maintaining visibility. The frame consists of a 40x60 mm powder-coated stainless steel square hollow section, which provides stability. Outdoor plywood is used for flooring, and ground screws serve as an efficient solution for creating a stable foundation without extensive site disruption.

Natural light fills the interior spaces, while the clear walls provide a calm setting for readers. The combination of transparency and rustic design encourages a reading experience that connects closely to the outdoors, making the environment both inviting and comfortable.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 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
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge

AIA (American Institute of Architects) invites you to design affordable housing in Denver

Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 2025

Recurring architecture competitions

The Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 2025
MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025
new
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
Early bird registration deadline 2 October 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
Advance registration deadline 9 October 2025
new
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
Early bird registration deadline 15 October 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 October 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 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
Concrete 
Pavilion

Design a concrete pavilion

Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 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

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