Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Spiral Overpass Enabling Community Living with Modular Units

Authors:
Jiajing Gao, Xingjie Xie
Spiral Overpass Enabling Community Living with Modular Units
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
A spiral overpass interlinks driverless trams and modular living units, promoting community interaction while enhancing urban mobility in Chongqing.
5 key facts about this project
01
A spiral overpass design optimizes land use while enhancing vertical connectivity.
02
Modular living units provide flexible residential options tailored for urban density.
03
The station features an integrated air purification system improving local air quality.
04
A cableway system enhances transportation efficiency by connecting living spaces.
05
Community gardens on balconies promote sustainable urban agriculture.

The Overpass Rail Station in Chongqing is a thoughtful solution to the needs of a busy urban landscape. Located in a densely populated area, it combines various transportation functions in one cohesive structure. The design features a spiral shape that effectively utilizes vertical space, reducing the land footprint while promoting accessibility and convenience. This station serves as an important hub, bringing together different methods of transport for the city's inhabitants.

Transportation Integration

Combining multiple types of transport is a key feature of this design. The overpass provides a route for driverless ultrahigh-speed trams, allowing for quick movement across the city. Alongside the light rail system, the project encourages walking by integrating pedestrian paths. The cableway adds an extra layer of innovation, providing not only transportation but also a unique way to connect residential areas. This arrangement fosters increased interaction among users and helps alleviate traffic pressure on ground-level streets.

Modular Living Solutions

The project introduces modular living boxes that prioritize flexibility for residents. Available in various configurations, including single, double, triple, and quadruple rooms, these units accommodate a range of living situations. The design allows for efficient use of space, intending to create a sense of community among inhabitants. This approach makes it easier for people to connect and share experiences in a high-density environment.

Sustainability Features

Sustainability plays an essential role throughout the design. An air purification system is integrated into the central tube, which helps filter pollutants for a healthier atmosphere. Green infrastructure, including plants and trees, contributes to improving air quality while providing shade and beauty. This focus on environmental well-being addresses contemporary urban issues and enhances the living conditions for residents.

Public and Community Spaces

The design includes well-planned public areas and buffer zones to balance privacy with social engagement. The aerial farm market enables residents to grow edible plants on their balconies and walls, reinforcing a connection to nature. This aspect not only promotes sustainable practices but also encourages a sense of belonging among community members.

A notable feature of the station is the vertical elevator in the core tube, providing access to different levels of the structure while offering views of the surrounding area. This addition transforms the experience of moving through the station, making each trip engaging and visually appealing.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
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 Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
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

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
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 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
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