Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Sustainable Living Through Recycled Wood and Community Gardens

Authors:
Hsuan Pi, Anbin Liu, Louise Villalta, Eric Chen
Sustainable Living Through Recycled Wood and Community Gardens
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Incorporating fog catchers and community gardens, this initiative utilizes recycled wood to create a compact, sustainable living environment that addresses the need for affordable housing in the Bay Area.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates fog catchers to harvest moisture for irrigation.
02
Features community gardens to promote local food production.
03
Utilizes recycled wood for flooring and structural elements.
04
Includes multi-purpose rooms that adapt to various functions.
05
Located on Treasure Island, enhancing urban and ecological connectivity.

The tiny home community on Treasure Island is designed to meet the growing need for affordable housing in the Bay Area, located conveniently between San Francisco and Oakland. The project emphasizes efficient living spaces that encourage community engagement and sustainability. It combines essential residential areas within a compact layout, aiming to create a sense of belonging for its residents.

Functionality and Layout

The design incorporates a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, and a multi-purpose room into efficient living spaces. This layout maximizes the available area while ensuring that each room serves a specific function. Storage options are cleverly placed along walls and under beds, allowing the space to be organized and accessible without feeling cramped. The multi-purpose room can transform easily from a dining area to a place for relaxation or work.

Sustainability and Community Gardens

At the heart of the design is a focus on sustainability, which is evident in the inclusion of community gardens and an aquaponics system. This system encourages local food production and helps create a sustainable ecosystem by using fish waste to fertilize crops. Community gardens not only provide food but also foster social interaction, allowing residents to share responsibilities and build connections with one another.

Material Choices and Construction Elements

The materials chosen for construction prioritize environmental sustainability. Recycled wood serves as the primary flooring material, reinforcing the commitment to reducing waste. Additionally, PVC and cloth will be used for garden walls and fog catchers. These fog catchers are designed to capture moisture from the environment, which will be used in a recycled water system for irrigation. This process further supports the project's goal of sustainability.

Technological Integration and Energy Efficiency

The project also includes sun and wind turbines to enhance self-sufficiency. These renewable energy sources contribute to the overall energy needs of the community. By integrating technology that focuses on energy efficiency, the community does more than just provide housing; it supports a lifestyle that respects the environment and promotes responsible usage of resources.

Each home in the community is designed to connect with its surroundings, allowing residents to interact with nature and contribute to sustainable practices. The design encourages a lifestyle that values sustainable living while providing practical housing solutions. This community is not only intended to address the housing crisis but also to foster a shared sense of responsibility among its residents.

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

Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge #8

Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge #8

Design iconic urban sculptures for the prestigious Mujassam Watan competition and compete for 50,000 €

50,000 € PRIZE project COMPETITION
Prize 50,000 + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 23 July 2026

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
Portugal Long Table 
Restaurant

Design a slow-living restaurant in Portugal

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 8 July 2026
new
The Quiet 
Tower

Design an observation tower in Latvia

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 22 July 2026
Mujassam Watan 
Urban Sculpture Challenge #8

Design iconic urban sculptures for the prestigious Mujassam Watan competition and compete for 50,000 €

50,000 € PRIZE project COMPETITION
Prize 50,000 + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 23 July 2026
new
New York High Falls 
Riverfront Market

Design a New Riverfront Market in Rochester, New York

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 29 July 2026
new
Valli Wine 
Tasting Room

Design a wine tasting room in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 30 July 2026
Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 16 September 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #8 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 18 June 2026
new
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 18 June 2026
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 #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 2 July 2026
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
Advance registration deadline 9 July 2026
Underbridge #2

Design housing in underutilized bridge spaces

Affordable Housing Edition #20 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 July 2026
MICROHOME 2026

Design a new concept of small-scale home and share a prize fund of 100,000€

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 September 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