The Next House: USA

Dezeen Competitions: Buildner’s latest competition asks architects and designers to redesign the American suburban home, once a symbol of a “dream lifestyle”.

The submissions should offer plans for smaller and smarter homes in suburban USA, which are more affordable and sustainable.

This competition is now closed

Organiser: Buildner
Competition: The Next House: USA
Judges: to be announced
Submission deadline: 20 May 2026
Winner announcement: 22 September 2026
Prizes: the first prize is $10,000, the second prize is $5,000, and the third prize is $3,000. An additional Buildner Student Award and Buildner Sustainability Award of $1,000 each will also be granted

Click here to enter

Competition overview

Buildner presents The Next House: USA, an international architecture competition inviting architects and designers to reimagine the iconic American suburban home.

Once a global symbol of the “dream lifestyle,” the suburban house now faces challenges of affordability, sustainability and relevance.

This competition calls for innovative proposals for a replicable suburban home prototype – one that prioritises adaptability, expandability and sustainability, while remaining feasible and cost-conscious.

The Next House: USA offers architects, students and visionaries worldwide an opportunity to redefine the future of the American home and inspire a new suburban dream – smaller, smarter and better.

Eligibility and judging criteria

The competition is open to all.

The submissions will be judged on projects that reimagine homes as a foundation for a smarter, healthier and more connected future.

How to enter

All submissions must be uploaded via the upload panel.

Participants are required to upload four A2 landscape-oriented presentation boards with sketches, renderings, plans, sections, elevations, diagrammes, and/or other presentation tools to explain their proposal.

• No video files are accepted
• All information provided in writing must be in English
• All submissions must be uploaded via the architecturecompetitions.com upload panel
• Access information and instructions on how to upload the presentation boards will be issued to participants via email immediately after successful registration
• Presentation boards must not indicate any information related to an individual’s/team’s identity.

Submission deadlines

Early bird registration is open from 24 September to 19 November 2025, while advance registration is from 20 November 2025 to 18 February 2026.

Last-minute registration is from 19 February to May 2026, while the final registration deadline is May 20, 2026.

The closing date for submission is 30 June 2026.

Winners will be announced on 22 September 2026.

About Buildner

Buildner publishes international architecture competitions, providing a platform for designers and architects to showcase their work and shape the future of the built environment.

For over ten years, the platform has published more than 140 competitions and had over 400 guest jury members.

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