Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Reflective Glass and Local Palm Wood Create Sustainable Community Living Solutions

Reflective Glass and Local Palm Wood Create Sustainable Community Living Solutions
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Combining reflective glass with locally sourced palm wood, the design achieves a balance of sustainable materials and energy efficiency, providing a modern residential community space that emphasizes ecological responsibility.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes locally sourced palm wood for structural and aesthetic elements, supporting regional craftsmanship.
02
Incorporates photovoltaic panels for energy generation, promoting renewable energy use.
03
Strategically designed windows for optimal natural ventilation, enhancing indoor air quality.
04
Employs mineral-based paints and plasters, reducing indoor VOC emissions for safety.
05
Features a landscape that requires minimal irrigation, aligning with regional climate conditions.

**Project Overview**

Located in the Emirates, the Striped Oasis residence integrates contemporary design with sustainability, aiming to address modern living standards while significantly minimizing environmental impact. The project embodies a commitment to functionality, security, and comfort, complemented by the use of renewable energy resources. The design reflects a clear intention to create an efficient yet aesthetically appealing home that aligns with evolving residential needs.

**Materiality and Architectural Elements**

The selection of materials plays a crucial role in the design's sustainability. Reinforced concrete provides structural integrity, while locally sourced palm wood supports community engagement and lowers carbon footprints. Recycled aluminum, mineral-based paints, and photovoltaic panels enhance the building’s ecological footprint, promoting energy efficiency and environmental safety.

The architectural design features a unique façade characterized by large windows and ornamental details across various elevations. The strategic placement of expansive windows and a tranquil garden contributes to natural light and privacy while adhering to regional architectural aesthetics with brick and stone textures in a complementary color palette. The interior layout is designed for practicality, with communal spaces fostering interaction on the ground floor and private bedrooms on the upper level, all enhancing connectivity to outdoor spaces.

**Sustainable Strategies and User Experience**

The project prioritizes eco-sustainability through natural ventilation and water conservation techniques, utilizing local plant species that require minimal irrigation. A photovoltaic energy system enables self-sufficiency, generating up to 6 kW for the residence. Windows are designed to balance privacy and natural lighting, while landscapes shielded by hedges provide an aesthetic retreat. Thoughtful inclusion of a majlis creates significant social spaces, enhancing communal living while offering privacy to residents.

Future flexibility within the design allows for potential expansions, accommodating additional rooms or functional spaces to meet evolving needs. These features embody a forward-thinking approach, reflecting not only adaptability but also a harmonious blend of traditional and modern elements within the cultural context of the region.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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

Recurring architecture competitions

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