Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Rammed Earth Structure Emphasizing Community Gathering with Photovoltaic Solutions

Rammed Earth Structure Emphasizing Community Gathering with Photovoltaic Solutions
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Utilizing rammed earth construction and integrated photovoltaic systems, this development fosters community interaction in a circular layout that prioritizes sustainability and efficient living.
5 key facts about this project
01
Rammed earth construction enhances thermal mass and resource efficiency.
02
The design incorporates a central courtyard to foster community engagement.
03
Thirty-five photovoltaic panels provide renewable energy for the residence.
04
Lightweight walls allow for flexible interior configurations and design adaptability.
05
Local materials are utilized to minimize environmental impact and support the community.

# Architectural Project Overview: Unity of People for a Better Future

## Overview
Located in an arid region, this residential design prioritizes sustainable living and community engagement. The circular form of the structure signifies interconnectedness and promotes social interaction among its inhabitants. The intent is to create a dynamic living space that addresses contemporary challenges such as climate change and social fragmentation, while facilitating both private and communal experiences.

## Spatial Configuration
The layout features a central open-air courtyard that serves as a focal point for the home’s ground and first floors. The ground floor is designed with specific dimensions for various functional areas, including a living room of 39 m², a 15 m² Majlisi, and rooms allocated for utility and storage purposes. Surrounding the courtyard, these spaces encourage fluid movement and interactions among residents.

On the first floor, private bedrooms and terraced gardens maintain a clear demarcation between public and private areas, while ensuring connectivity through design. The circular arrangement of spaces enhances natural light penetration and ventilation, contributing to an inviting living environment.

## Material Selection and Sustainability
The project emphasizes sustainability through a careful choice of materials and construction techniques. Key components include rammed earth as the primary structural material, offering thermal mass for passive cooling. A total of 35 photovoltaic panels are integrated into the roof system to support renewable energy generation.

Glass louvres are strategically placed to promote airflow and natural lighting, while lightweight walls allow for adaptable interior configurations. The employment of locally sourced materials further aligns with sustainable development principles, minimizing transportation-related carbon emissions.

### Innovative Features
The design incorporates advanced sustainability features such as a rainwater harvesting system for non-potable uses and substantial roof overhangs for natural shading. The integration of greenery throughout the property not only enhances aesthetic appeal but also assists in microclimate regulation.

Pathways connecting homes and green spaces have been designed to foster community engagement, highlighting the importance of social interaction in enhancing overall quality of life for residents. This architectural approach not only draws from traditional forms but adapts them to contemporary living needs, positioning the project as a potential model for future residential developments in similar contexts.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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 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
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
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

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 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
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