Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Wind Towers and Bright Straw Construction for Sustainable Family Living in Desert Oasis

Wind Towers and Bright Straw Construction for Sustainable Family Living in Desert Oasis
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Employing bright straw and wind towers, the design integrates traditional Emirati elements with sustainable living, creating a family home that harmonizes with the desert environment while optimizing energy efficiency.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes bright straw as a primary insulation material to enhance thermal performance.
02
Incorporates wind towers to facilitate natural ventilation, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling.
03
Features a series of interconnected courtyards that promote privacy and outdoor engagement.
04
Employs a Majlis space designed for cultural gatherings, reflecting traditional Emirati values.
05
Integrates solar panels seamlessly into the roof design for energy efficiency.

# Architectural Report: Dubai Future House

## Overview
Located in Arabian Ranches, Dubai, the design intent of the Dubai Future House is to create a tranquil residential environment that harmonizes with the urban landscape. The project prioritizes blending contemporary architectural techniques with traditional Emirati cultural elements. This approach not only respects local heritage but also meets the practical living requirements in response to the climatic and social context of Dubai.

## Spatial Strategy and Functionality
The architectural layout features an innovative arrangement of four distinct courtyards, each tailored for specific functions ranging from communal gatherings to private retreats. This strategic use of space enhances privacy and fosters social interaction among residents.

- **Ground Floor Design**: The ground level includes a *Majlis*, expansive living areas, and personal quarters, all of which are oriented towards the courtyards to promote airflow and create a cooler microclimate, essential for comfort in the hot climate of Dubai.
- **First Floor Amenities**: The upper level includes a swimming pool adjacent to the bedrooms, allowing for unobstructed views of the central courtyard while also contributing to the visual and aesthetic richness of the living environment.

## Materiality and Sustainability
Material selection has been a critical focus, emphasizing local cultural relevance and sustainability.

1. **Bright Straw Material**: Chosen for its cultural significance and superior thermal performance, this material effectively minimizes heat transfer.
2. **Wood Elements**: The incorporation of wood reflects traditional Emirati architecture, providing both aesthetic warmth and comfort.
3. **Mesh Panels**: These façade elements regulate sunlight while ensuring privacy, balancing openness and enclosure.
4. **Solar Panels**: Positioned on the roof, these panels enhance the house’s sustainability by utilizing renewable energy sources.
5. **Glass Walls**: Applied in communal spaces, glass facilitates natural light and expansive views, further contributing to a comfortable interior climate.

The project also integrates thermal and environmental considerations through passive cooling mechanisms like wind towers, promoting natural ventilation and reducing reliance on mechanical systems. Comprehensive analysis of solar radiation and prevailing wind conditions informs the building's responsiveness to seasonal variations, enhancing its energy efficiency.

Distinctive features such as adaptability for future expansions, integration of cultural motifs, and thoughtful design of social spaces underscore the innovative approach of the Dubai Future House, positioning it as a forward-thinking residential model in Dubai.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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 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
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
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

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 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
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