Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Vertical Greenery and Kinetic Facade Redefining Urban Office Spaces

Author:
Jinkun Shen
Vertical Greenery and Kinetic Facade Redefining Urban Office Spaces
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
A central atrium modeled after a canyon, enhanced by vertical greenery and a kinetic facade, creates an innovative approach to urban office life in Manchester.
5 key facts about this project
01
A canyon-like atrium optimizes natural light and air circulation.
02
Vertical greenery enhances biodiversity within an urban setting.
03
Kinetic facade harnesses wind energy for sustainability.
04
Circulation bridges promote connectivity and social engagement.
05
A Sky Garden offers a recreational space in the high-rise.

The Urban Mountain Tower reimagines urban life in Manchester, a city known for its industrial past and flat terrain. Functioning as a high-rise office building, the design takes inspiration from the forms of natural mountains. It aims to create a connection between the built environment and the natural world. The tower incorporates vertical greenery and maximizes natural light, emphasizing ecological sustainability and encouraging interactions among its users.

Design Concept

The architectural concept is based on resembling mountainous shapes, resulting in an abstract form characterized by rocky outcrops. This distinct structure allows the building to engage with its environment while providing benefits such as better airflow and light. The central atrium, likened to a canyon, allows natural light to illuminate the interior and promotes air circulation, which helps improve the overall environment of the building.



Spatial Integration

A key feature of the design is the integration of public and private spaces through circulation bridges. These pathways support movement between different levels and invite social interactions, breaking down barriers often found in conventional office layouts. The "Rift Valley" atrium acts as the core of the tower, enhancing daylight access and providing a sense of openness that connects people to the outdoor surroundings.



Sustainability Features

The building incorporates kinetic elements within its facade that utilize wind energy for sustainability. This aspect not only adds to the visual impact but also reflects the importance of environmental responsibility in modern design. By addressing energy generation through thoughtful architectural methods, the tower represents a forward-looking approach in the urban context.



Interior Spaces

Interior spaces are designed with a focus on user comfort and connections to nature. The Sky Garden includes water features and shared planting areas, offering a relaxing escape in the bustling urban setting. A viewing platform provides wide-ranging views of Manchester, while reading areas create a focused environment. The integration of public gardens and vertical green walls enriches the experience, contributes to local biodiversity, and positively impacts the building's ecological footprint.

The flow of planted terraces and open spaces develops a layered experience for individuals. They are encouraged to navigate through a modern representation of natural landscapes, fostering a unique encounter between urban life and the environment.

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