Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Wooden Loft Living with Integrated Urban Gardens

Authors:
Matthias Karch, Carolin Hoefler
Wooden Loft Living with Integrated Urban Gardens
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed with wooden modules and incorporating urban gardens, the Gasometer transformation blends affordable loft living with communal spaces that foster community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Loft Type D includes coworking spaces and artist studios to support creative community engagement.
02
All residential modules are constructed from wood, adhering to sustainable building practices.
03
The design incorporates urban gardening terraces to enhance green spaces in the urban environment.
04
Open-air cinema and performance areas provide cultural enrichment for residents and visitors.
05
The project promotes multifunctional spaces that facilitate social interaction and a sense of community.

The Gasometer in Berlin Schöneberg serves as a unique site for an innovative approach to affordable housing and community spaces. The design incorporates two towers: Tower 01 focuses on informal common infrastructure, while Tower 02 is primarily dedicated to residential living. The concept aims to enhance social interaction and community involvement, all while respecting the historical essence of the site.

Residential Offerings

The design includes various loft types to meet the needs of different residents. Loft Type A offers 130 square meters of living space, while Type B provides 103 square meters with access to shared amenities. Type C features a winter garden within its 78 square meters, and Type D is designed for coworking spaces across 450 square meters, allowing for a range of community functions. This thoughtful arrangement reflects an understanding of urban living dynamics and accommodates both individual and communal experiences.

Public Spaces

Key to the design is the creation of public areas that encourage residents to connect and engage with one another. These spaces include children’s playgrounds, an open-air theater, and informal gathering spots that can become lively dance floors at night. Such areas promote social interaction and a vibrant atmosphere. The inclusion of urban gardening terraces and pocket parks also supports environmental well-being, offering greenery in an urban context and enhancing the quality of life for those in the community.

Sustainability and Materials

Wood is the chosen material for all housing modules, in line with sustainable building practices. This choice contributes to the strength of the structures and fosters a warm aesthetic that blends with the urban environment. The design minimizes the ecological footprint by clustering the towers, tackling issues of space and affordability while providing necessary public areas, all while keeping the historical character of the Gasometer intact.

Noteworthy Design Features

Careful attention is paid to the details that enrich day-to-day life for residents. Features such as open-air cinemas and informal meeting spaces are built into the layout, enhancing community engagement and a sense of belonging. By integrating modern functions into the existing structure of the Gasometer, the design balances contemporary needs with a respect for the past. The result is a thoughtful approach to urban living that invites both functionality and community connection.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

`
Competition organisers

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 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
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 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
Early bird registration deadline 15 October 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 October 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025
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
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

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