Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Steel-Integrated Green Spaces for Affordable Urban Living

Authors:
Carlota De Haan, Amanda Lagerkvist, Johanna Schweitz Fåhraeus, Amir Ebrahimian
Steel-Integrated Green Spaces for Affordable Urban Living
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Utilizing prefabricated steel units and integrated green spaces, the design addresses Berlin's housing crisis by providing affordable, temporary living solutions that foster community engagement in urban settings.
5 key facts about this project
01
Affordable housing utilizing prefabricated steel units for efficient assembly.
02
Community-led management model empowers residents to shape living spaces.
03
Public ground floors integrate residential and economic functions.
04
Rooftop park enhances urban biodiversity and resident well-being.
05
Design aimed at reclaiming city center space for diverse populations.

ProBiosis is an initiative designed to address the housing crisis in Berlin, focusing on affordable and temporary living options. The project responds to the rapid increase in rents and stagnant income levels, which have left many residents struggling to find adequate housing. The design promotes community interaction and inclusivity. By combining social, urban, and political considerations, ProBiosis seeks to create adaptable spaces that foster resilience and connection among residents within the city.

Design Concept

The core idea behind ProBiosis is to encourage architectural inclusivity through shared spaces. These areas vary from semi-private to public, allowing residents to interact and build community ties. The design prioritizes affordable living arrangements. It aims to reduce the gap between the rising costs of living and the limited income growth many are experiencing.

Materials and Construction

ProBiosis incorporates self-bearing and insulated units made from steel, constructed in local factories. This method simplifies the building process while also lowering costs. The use of prefabricated components allows for quicker assembly of housing units, making it a practical solution to the urgent demand for housing in busy urban areas.

Urban Integration

The design includes a public ground floor that serves multiple functions, blending residential and economic activities. This feature helps form resilient communities by ensuring that diverse groups, especially those with low or medium incomes, can access urban spaces. The approach actively reclaims parts of the city, enhancing its overall activity and livability.

Sustainability and Green Spaces

An important element of ProBiosis is the inclusion of green spaces, like a rooftop park, which aim to improve the quality of life for residents. These areas provide not only recreational opportunities but also promote biodiversity within the urban environment. By integrating nature into the built form, ProBiosis aspires to encourage healthier living for all its residents while highlighting the connection between urban life and ecological awareness.

ProBiosis presents a thoughtful response to the challenges of affordable housing in Berlin. Its design focuses on creating adaptable living units that fit well into the city, reflecting a commitment to community and sustainability.

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