Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Translucent Glass Facades and Energy-Efficient Steel Framework Reshaping Waterfront Workspaces

Translucent Glass Facades and Energy-Efficient Steel Framework Reshaping Waterfront Workspaces
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Translucent glass facades integrate with a resilient steel framework to create a sustainable workspace that merges functionality with the surrounding marine environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Translucent glass facades enhance natural lighting while providing panoramic views of the waterfront.
02
The structure incorporates renewable energy systems, including solar panels and wind turbines, for energy self-sufficiency.
03
Modular housing clusters within the design allow for flexible spatial configurations and future expansion.
04
The resilient steel framework provides durability against environmental stressors prevalent in marine settings.
05
Sustainable materials, such as green coatings, are integrated to improve energy efficiency and environmental impact.

## Overview
Located in a marine environment, the architectural design of Data Island explores the integration of technology and nature, emphasizing sustainability in response to modern digital needs. The project is characterized by a streamlined, rectangular form that promotes efficiency and functionality, facilitating energy autonomy through the use of renewable resources. This architectural approach seeks to establish a straightforward connection between space and purpose while addressing the complexities of contemporary infrastructure.

## Structural and Material Considerations
Data Island features a prominent exposed structural steel frame, aligning with principles of minimalism and providing both aesthetic transparency and structural resilience in a waterfront setting. The extensive use of glass in the façade allows for the influx of natural light, contributing to an uplifting interior environment while delivering expansive views of the surrounding water. Concrete elements form the foundational and flooring components, ensuring structural solidity, while the inclusion of green coatings or panels enhances energy efficiency through solar gain management.

## Sustainability and User Experience
The design is centered on energy self-sufficiency, incorporating renewable energy systems such as wind turbines and solar panels directly into its architecture. Interior spaces are intentionally flexible, accommodating various activities and operational needs to support a dynamic work environment. The building's elevation above the water encourages ecological interactions, fostering biodiversity and potential opportunities for marine research. The interior layout promotes fluid movement across spaces, with natural colors and materials that reflect the marine context, creating a calming atmosphere conducive to collaboration and productivity.

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 Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
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
Advance registration deadline 18 February 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
Rome 
Rain Rooms

Design a rain room for Rome

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 14 January 2026
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
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 28 January 2026
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
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

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 Home of 
Shadows

Design a home with no artificial lighting

The light studies. Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 14 January 2026
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
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
Advance registration deadline 22 January 2026
new
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
Early bird registration deadline 11 February 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