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Rammed Earth Walls and Green Roofs Enhancing Community Engagement

Authors:
Cristiano Dias, Joel Marinho, André Brandão, João Santos
Rammed Earth Walls and Green Roofs Enhancing Community Engagement
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Constructed from rammed earth and topped with a green roof, this community-focused building fosters engagement and cohesion among residents while integrating seamlessly into its natural landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes locally sourced rammed earth for effective insulation and visual harmony with the landscape.
02
Features a green roof that promotes biodiversity and enhances thermal performance.
03
Incorporates a Fibonacci spiral layout to foster natural movement and community interaction.
04
Aligns communal spaces with the sunset to enhance the daily connection to nature.
05
Designed with a focus on minimizing land disruption through site-specific integration.

The Spirala Community Home is designed to support community living in its natural environment. Located on a slope, the design encourages unity and mutual support among its residents. The plan centers around circular and spiral shapes, which create spaces where people can interact while also maintaining their privacy.

Geometric Inspiration

The design uses the Fibonacci spiral, a pattern found in nature, to shape its layout. This approach combines circular and spiral forms, leading to distinct spaces for various activities. The flow of movement throughout the building allows for easy connections between public and private areas, promoting a sense of community.

Materiality and Construction

Sustainability is a core principle of this project, using earth excavated from the site to build the walls. The use of rammed earth provides good insulation and creates a strong visual connection to the local landscape. The rich textures and colors of earth help ground the building in its environment, making it feel part of the land.

Interior Experience and Light

Natural light plays an important role in the interiors. A ceiling made of laminated wood converges at an oculus, which enhances the height of the space and allows sunlight to fill the rooms. This feature aligns the main communal space with the sunset, creating a changing visual experience throughout the day as the light shifts.

Integration with Landscape

The green roof contributes to the building's relationship with the surrounding area. It supports local biodiversity and acts as a natural cooling system. This design choice blends the architecture with nature, reinforcing the project's focus on environmental responsibility. The green roof also adds to the overall visual appeal, enhancing the experience of those who live there.

An expansive communal area acts as a central hub, fostering connections among residents while offering views of the landscape that change as day turns to night.

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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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