Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Spiraling Greenery and Photovoltaic Integration in a Sustainable Urban High-Rise

Authors:
Jonathan Delcambre, Brent Holdman, Cesar Salgueiro, Nam Phan
Spiraling Greenery and Photovoltaic Integration in a Sustainable Urban High-Rise
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
A spiraling, vertical garden integrates photovoltaic systems and thermal mass elements to create a sustainable high-rise that harmonizes with its urban environment while providing flexible office and community spaces.
5 key facts about this project
01
Spiraling design incorporates vertical gardens at multiple levels.
02
Photovoltaic systems are seamlessly integrated into the facade.
03
Concrete elements provide thermal mass for energy efficiency.
04
Natural ventilation is optimized through the unique geometry.
05
Community and recreational spaces are intertwined within the structure.

The Carbon Neutral Tower is a contemporary architectural project located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, focusing on sustainability and innovative design. This building integrates various functions, including office spaces, public amenities, and recreational areas, while embodying principles of environmental stewardship. With a unique architectural form resembling a spiraling plant, the tower maximizes interaction with both occupants and the surrounding urban environment.

Unique Design Features and Sustainability

What sets the Carbon Neutral Tower apart from other architectural projects is its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions. The design employs a spiraled structure that not only enhances aesthetic appeal but also optimizes energy efficiency. Vegetation is integrated into multiple levels, promoting biodiversity and improving air quality. These green terraces enhance the urban ecosystem, contributing to a healthier environment.

The project features advanced passive strategies, such as natural ventilation systems that utilize airflow generated by its distinctive geometry. Concrete is used strategically to regulate thermal mass, presenting a dual function as both a structural and climate-control element. Combined with an extensive glass façade, these materials allow for abundant natural light while minimizing energy usage.

Active systems further contribute to the building's sustainability. Photovoltaic panels are installed to harness solar energy, while integrated wind turbines capture wind resources. Smart building technologies monitor and adjust energy consumption effectively, ensuring optimal performance in real-time.

Architectural Organization and Functionality

The Carbon Neutral Tower is organized into several distinct zones to accommodate diverse activities. The ground floor functions as a transit hub, facilitating easy access for pedestrians and commuters. Above this, flexible office spaces are designed for adaptability, catering to evolving work environments. These areas are interspersed with public amenities, such as cafes and recreational spaces that encourage social interaction among occupants.

The design also includes multiple amenity levels offering outdoor areas for relaxation and leisure. These spaces are not only recreational but also serve as communal gathering points, promoting a sense of community within the urban landscape.

The Carbon Neutral Tower exemplifies a forward-thinking approach within the architectural design field, where sustainability meets functionality. For those interested in exploring the architectural plans, sections, and overall design ideas, reviewing the project presentation will provide deeper insights into the methodologies and intentions that guided its development.

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