Introduction
Buildner is excited to announce the results of its third annual Home of Shadows international architecture ideas competition.
This unique series focuses on the dynamic interplay between light and shadow in crafting functional, inviting living spaces. It underscores the critical role natural light plays in home design, where it not only enhances comfort and practicality but also creates a welcoming atmosphere.
In this competition, light is treated as a language—a means for architects to convey emotion—while shadows equally contribute to a space’s ambiance. The harmony between these elements introduces depth and texture, establishing distinct moods that cater to various functions, often achieved through the thoughtful placement of windows and doors.
Contestants were challenged to design a home for a hypothetical couple under one key condition: no artificial lighting was allowed inside. The jury sought entries that demonstrated how natural light could drive architectural decisions. Participants were encouraged to choose any theoretical site for their "Home of Shadows" project and propose a fully functional building featuring essential amenities such as a kitchen, bedroom, living room, bathroom, and a small courtyard.
An international jury panel with diverse expertise evaluated the submissions. The panel included Sarah Broadstock, an architect at London-based Studio Bark; Sandra Baggerman from the New York office of Trahan Architects, known for her work on cultural and public projects; Nikita Morell, a specialized copywriter for architects and founder of Architects WordShop; architectural designer and educator Blake T. Smith; and founders Patcharada Inplang and Thongchai Chansamak of Chiangmai, Thailand-based Sher Maker.
Buildner and its esteemed jury extend congratulations to the winning teams and thanks to all participants for their innovative proposals.
We sincerely thank our jury panel
for their time and expertise
Sarah Broadstock
Architect at Studio Bark
United Kingdom
Sandra Baggerman
Trahan Architects
USA
Thongchai Chansamak
Sher Maker
Thailand
Ophélie Herranz
Director, Nomos Architects
Spain
Patcharada Inplang
Sher Maker
Thailand
Nikita Morell
Founder, Architects WordShop
Australia
Blake T. Smith
BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group
United States
1st Prize Winner +
Buildner Student Award
Buildner Student Award
Vessel Of Light
The competition provides us with an opportunity to explore and challenge various topics, pushing us beyond our comfort zones to try different types, thus fostering a continuous learning process. In competitions, we are often faced with numerous requirements and constraints, similar to those encountered in future architectural practice. However, they are also more theoretical, which stimulates our imagination and creativity. This is particularly meaningful for us as students.
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Jury feedback summary
Vessel of Light is a residence set into a slope beside Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. The structure is defined by a curved roof that mirrors the sun’s path and multiple internal courtyards that introduce light into the subterranean volume. Skylights and apertures are calibrated to the daily cycle of light and the functional needs of each space. The interior sequence follows the movement of sunlight, creating changing atmospheres throughout the day.
This project thoughtfully incorporates courtyard to invite light into different spaces at appropriate times of the day. The use of textured, neutral materials enhances the play of light and their robust nature contrasts with the lush greenery. By sinking the home into the ground and creating lightwells at the periphery, light is further choreographed throughout the day.
Blake T. Smith / Buildner guest jury
BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, United States
Starting with the concave roof, this team's design analysed the light levels to coincide room types with desirable light levels. A great example of a strong initial concept being carried through to the final proposal, through a technical process of light analysis.
Sarah Broadstock / Buildner guest jury
Architect at Studio Bark, United Kingdom
The project presents well the theme of darkness and lightness in relation to time and space.
Thongchai Chansamak / Buildner guest jury
Sher Maker, Thailand
A beautiful design where geometry effortlessly facilitates optimal light conditions while embracing views, materials, climate, and programmatic function. The result is a great atmosphere that feels both serene and dynamic. The simplicity of the design is deceptive, as it is both powerful and deeply considered. The thoughtful graphic presentation further enhances the clarity of the concept, making the project truly stand out.
Sandra Baggerman / Buildner guest jury
Trahan Architects, USA
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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This submission has excellent renderings, use of color and strong hierarchy among visuals, but would benefit from a few improvements. First, the line drawings—particularly the section, plan, and axonometric—would be much clearer with a more deliberate use of varied line weights. Currently, the uniformity in line quality makes these drawings hard to interpret.
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7/10 Linework
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8/10 Quality of drawings
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8/10 Balance of color
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9/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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6/10 Annotation
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7/10 Text
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7/10 Clarity of story
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8/10 Clarity of diagrams
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8/10 Quality of overall presentation
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2nd Prize Winner
Aperture
China
Jury feedback summary
Aperture is a circular residence designed around a central courtyard that governs light and spatial flow. Located on an open landscape, the structure integrates rotating door-walls that regulate both movement and illumination. These 360-degree doors define private zones when closed, and interconnect rooms through shadows when open. The design reflects the cyclical nature of light, with illumination shifting in sync with celestial and terrestrial rhythms.
A centered and well-organized layout establishes a clear sequence and hierarchy, enhanced by the use of light, indirect lighting, and shadows. The design thoughtfully incorporates views, creating a serene and balanced atmosphere that feels both open and inviting.
Sandra Baggerman / Buildner guest jury
Trahan Architects, USA
I really appreciate the story behind this project (I'm a copywriter, after all!). I love when a project goes beyond just designing spaces and actually tells a story. The rotating doors are a brilliant touch: not just as a functional way to modulate privacy, but as a way to physically interact with light. Shadows aren’t just cast; they move, evolve, and become part of the experience.
Nikita Morell / Buildner guest jury
Founder, Architects WordShop, Australia
The design’s reverence for the sun is clear and compelling, with the central space and rotating doors thoughtfully resolved in terms of light and circulation. The absence of a clear location makes it difficult to assess the practicalities of the home. A more balanced integration of technical resolution alongside the poetic narrative would have strengthened the proposal and elevated its overall impact.
Sarah Broadstock / Buildner guest jury
Architect at Studio Bark, United Kingdom
I believe the house feels alive, responding to celestial rhythms in a way that makes everyday actions - such as waking, resting, gathering - feel connected to something bigger. The circular form is very deeply calming, and reflects the cycles of day and night.
Nikita Morell / Buildner guest jury
Founder, Architects WordShop, Australia
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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This project captures attention through a striking primary rendering, where a deep blue sky contrasts effectively with the white form of the building and its green surroundings. The result is a visually striking introduction. However, the presentation’s overall clarity suffers due to the abstract and poetic nature of the accompanying text. While evocative, the language leaves key architectural aspects unclear—such as materials, construction methods, and intended users.
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6/10 Linework
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7/10 Quality of drawings
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8/10 Balance of color
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6/10 Layout
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7/10 Hierarchy
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5/10 Annotation
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6/10 Text
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7/10 Clarity of story
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7/10 Clarity of diagrams
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7/10 Quality of overall presentation
3rd Prize Winner
Łódź, Wschodnia 13
I participate in competitions because I believe there is no progress without discomfort. Being judged is never pleasant, but it is essential for continuous growth.
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Poland
Jury feedback summary
The Home of Light explores the relationship between sunlight and spatial experience through a composition of contrasting volumes. The upper level is bathed in direct light, while the lower level, known as the Home of Shadows, remains recessed and introspective. The design is organized to capture the sun’s movement, employing devices such as angled windows, thick walls, and voids to modulate brightness and cast shifting shadows.
The memory of light from different sources blends well with the architecture. This project is especially connected to its local site, allowing a deep understanding of the context. While the exterior features many elements of light, the interior is imagined as a space filled with atmospheric memories—created through intentional lighting design that shapes the feeling of each room.
Patcharada Inplang / Buildner guest jury
Sher Maker, Thailand
This urban interpretation of the brief is well considered, addressing the complexities of a denser context. The physical model is a strong addition; its impact could have been greater if used to demonstrate sun paths and daylight within internal spaces.
Sarah Broadstock / Buildner guest jury
Architect at Studio Bark, United Kingdom
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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This project stands out for its thoughtful integration into an urban context, supported by strong physical models, compelling photography, and detailed site analysis. The presentation effectively conveys a sense of realism at the urban scale. However, the work would benefit from greater attention to hierarchy and clarity—particularly in the use of text. Currently, the textual content is overly long and visually dense, making it difficult to engage with.
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8/10 Linework
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8/10 Quality of drawings
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6/10 Balance of color
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8/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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7/10 Annotation
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6/10 Text
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7/10 Clarity of story
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7/10 Clarity of diagrams
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7/10 Quality of overall presentation
Buildner Sustainability Award
Dappled Sun House
We participate in architecture competitions to imagine spaces that we would enjoy being in. We hope that by doing these competitions, we can share those ideas with others.
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United States
Jury feedback summary
Dappled Sun House is situated in the tropical landscape of Malaysia. The structure is oriented along the east-west axis to align with the sun’s path, using filtered morning and evening light to define the character of each space. A layered roof system and open-air courtyards create a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, while facilitating natural ventilation. Materials such as timber, rammed earth, and local stone regulate temperature and humidity.
From the outside, the home looks quite simple, but the openings in the roof suggest the intense richness of spaces found inside. By allowing the timber framing to continue below the skylights, the play of light is dramatized and adds depth to all of the interior spaces. The use of water and greenery to break up the interior spaces creates a meditative experience while the play of light dances around the rooms. The construction method, passive strategies and thatched roof evoke a sense of place.
Blake T. Smith / Buildner guest jury
BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, United States
The design exudes serenity and simplicity in a pure and powerful way. Seemingly simple, the proposal showcases carefully proportioned and curated spaces in terms of scale, openness, and light conditions. A clever and sophisticated approach to the roof’s openness and varying transparency creates unique light conditions, allowing indirect light to enter and cast shadows. This enchanting design emphasizes the simple beauty of material, light, and proportion, reflecting a strong commitment to sustainability.
Sandra Baggerman / Buildner guest jury
Trahan Architects, USA
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
Order your review here
This submission is visually strong, with a particularly compelling main rendering that achieves near-photographic realism and sets a high standard for presentation. However, the project would benefit from a more deliberate approach to hierarchy across several elements. In the line drawings—section, plan, and axonometric—the lack of variation in line weight makes spatial relationships difficult to read, and the use of shadows instead of clear cut lines adds ambiguity.
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6/10 Linework
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8/10 Quality of drawings
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6/10 Balance of color
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8/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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4/10 Annotation
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6/10 Text
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7/10 Clarity of story
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7/10 Clarity of diagrams
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7/10 Quality of overall presentation
Honorable mentions
Shortlisted projects
House of Lightwells
United States A Stilted Retreat in the Wild
Walls That Remember
One Thing At A Time
Sinking House
Dissolving Boundaries
Frame
Aperture
The Cycle of Light
APOLLO HOUSE
Alpenglühen [Alpenglow]
Łódź, Wschodnia 13
Garden of Shadow
THRYLLUX
L’Atelier des Flots (The Workshop of the Waves)
Maru
LUMINOUS SHADOWS
In Praise of Shadow
Vessel Of Light
LIGHT PASSAGE : AXIS OF DAY
The Vine Path
Umbral Retreat
Home of Stars
The Lighthouse
the sunlit spiral_Lisa Sick_Amina Markisic
Caverna
CHIAROSCURO
House of Whispering Light
AfterImage
Sundial House
Bamboo Grove Dwelling
Oasis
Sliver of Sunlight
A Sandcastle in Abu Dhabi
CIRCADIAN CIRCLE
Unfolding Light
Poetry of Shadows
Dappled Sun House
inner room
Tiladan: A Pili Nut Cracker's House
