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 Mudbrick Integration in Climate-Responsive Housing

Wind Towers and Mudbrick Integration in Climate-Responsive Housing
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Incorporating wind towers for natural ventilation and crafted from sustainable mudbrick, this residence offers a climate-responsive solution that enhances community living and environmental sensitivity.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates wind towers to enhance natural ventilation throughout the home.
02
Utilizes locally sourced mudbrick for sustainable thermal mass and insulation.
03
Features integrated landscaping that supports local biodiversity and aesthetic continuity.
04
Design includes adaptable spaces that can evolve with occupants' changing needs.
05
Central courtyard fosters community interaction while connecting indoor and outdoor environments.

## Project Overview

The Wāha Series presents an architectural approach that redefines residential living by considering homes as integrated environmental systems rather than isolated structures. Located in a diverse climatic region, the design emphasizes user comfort and sustainable practices, merging living spaces with their surrounding context. The intent is to create a responsive dwelling experience that aligns with the dynamic environmental conditions and social needs of its occupants.

### Spatial Configuration and Community Interaction

The layout of the Wāha Series consists of interconnected pavilions that balance privacy with communal engagement. Each pavilion is designed to facilitate natural circulation, enhancing interaction among family members while accommodating their individual needs. Central to this configuration is a courtyard that serves as a communal gathering space, linking the interior with outdoor environments. The architectonic forms incorporate sweeping curves and organic shapes, fostering visual connections and promoting movement throughout the residence.

### Materials and Passive Design Strategies

The project employs a thoughtfully selected palette of materials that prioritize both aesthetic qualities and sustainability. Mud bricks are utilized for their thermal mass, contributing to effective temperature regulation, while clay plaster provides a natural finish that enhances the home’s thermal performance. Wood is prominently featured in framing and furnishings, promoting warmth and sustainability. Glass is strategically incorporated to facilitate natural light and establish views of the landscape.

Additionally, the reliance on passive climate control techniques is evident in features such as wind towers, which optimize airflow, and automatically regulating shutter windows designed to adapt to varying climatic conditions. Integrated landscaping plays a crucial role in enhancing air quality and providing shade, thereby supporting local biodiversity while fostering community interaction through well-designed shared areas such as the family entrance and kitchen garden.

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