Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Seaweed Panels and Coconut Timber Create a Self-Sufficient Micro Home Emphasizing Sustainable Living

Seaweed Panels and Coconut Timber Create a Self-Sufficient Micro Home Emphasizing Sustainable Living
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Incorporating seaweed panels and coconut timber, this micro home on Netra Island utilizes renewable materials and innovative design to promote sustainable living while providing a functional and communal space for its residents.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates locally sourced seaweed panels for insulation and sustainability.
02
Utilizes coconut timber as a primary structural material for its strength and renewability.
03
Features a bent A-frame design to optimize natural light and airflow.
04
Includes interlocking recycled blocks that enhance stability and reduce waste.
05
Integrates micro farming capabilities to support self-sufficient living for residents.

### Overview
Located on Netra Island in the Arabian Sea, the Horizon Edge project addresses sustainability and social equity in housing amidst growing urbanization and climate change challenges. This micro-home initiative integrates eco-friendly practices with modern living, aiming to serve as a model for future developments in ecologically sensitive areas, particularly in the context of Netra Island’s designation as a biodiversity hotspot in 2007.

### Environmental Response
The architectural design is informed by the island's tropical climate, marked by temperatures averaging 28°C to 30°C. The project optimally utilizes natural ventilation and sunlight through strategically placed openings. Analyzing sun and wind patterns has guided the building's orientation, enhancing both comfort and energy efficiency. The A-frame structure aids in efficient water runoff and provides structural resilience against wind forces while maximizing views and daylighting potential.

### Material Selection
Material choices reflect a strong commitment to sustainability. Key components include seaweed roof panels for insulation, locally sourced coconut timber for structural elements, and recycled interlocking blocks that repurpose waste into valuable resources. Photovoltaic solar panels provide renewable energy, bolstering the project’s energy independence, while hydrogel insulation panels effectively regulate internal temperatures. These selections not only emphasize environmental responsibility but also minimize maintenance requirements, ensuring long-term functionality.

### Spatial Configuration
The interior layout emphasizes efficient use of space, featuring designated areas for sleeping, cooking, and communal activities. The ground floor includes living, kitchen, and dining spaces to facilitate social interaction, while the mezzanine accommodates private sleeping areas, maintaining an open flow. Multifunctional elements, such as foldable furniture and convertible areas, maximize utility within the compact design, exemplifying effective spatial management that enhances user comfort.

### Sustainability Practices
The project incorporates advanced strategies for waste and water management, including rainwater harvesting systems and facilities for waste separation, aimed at reducing resource consumption. Smart technology is integrated to monitor and optimize energy use, further minimizing environmental impact. Additionally, the inclusion of micro-farming capabilities encourages residents to produce their own food, promoting self-sufficiency and supporting local ecosystems.

Through these elements, the Horizon Edge project exemplifies a comprehensive approach to modern housing that prioritizes ecological integrity and community engagement while remaining financially viable.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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
The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

`
Competition organisers

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 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

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
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 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
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
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

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