Buildner is excited to announce the results of the Denver Single-Stair Housing Challenge.
This international competition challenged architects, urban designers, and policymakers to rethink the Point Access Block—a common mid-rise housing typology found in cities worldwide. Participants were invited to propose innovative and adaptable designs that improve spatial efficiency, enhance community interaction, and promote sustainable urban living. The goal was to explore how architecture can address contemporary housing challenges, offering solutions that balance density, livability, and environmental responsibility.
Entrants were encouraged to consider factors such as modularity, affordability, access to natural light and ventilation, and integration with public spaces. The competition sought to inspire forward-thinking approaches that redefine how urban housing can support diverse lifestyles and evolving societal needs while responding to climate-conscious design principles.
Denver, CO – Buildner, in collaboration with SAR+ Architects, is pleased to announce the winners of the Denver Single-Stair Housing Challenge, the latest competition in the Affordable Housing Challenge series. This initiative invited architects and designers worldwide to explore innovative, sustainable, and adaptable single-staircase housing solutions for underutilized sites in Denver.
The competition highlighted the potential of Point Access Block (PAB) housing, a widely used urban housing typology that remains underutilized in North America due to regulatory barriers. Participants were challenged to propose mid-rise housing solutions that enhance community interaction, optimize spatial efficiency, and address contemporary housing challenges through climate-conscious design.
After a thorough review by an esteemed jury of architects, policymakers, and housing experts, the first prize was awarded to Anthony Barakat and Rita Alsemaani from Lebanon for their project Detached Living, a modular housing concept centered around a central atrium for natural ventilation, featuring movable louvers, prefabricated materials, and rainwater collection to enhance sustainability and flexibility.
The second prize went to Lisa-Marie Mélodie Deransy from France for Brick and Bloom, a bioclimatic design utilizing earth bricks, solar chimneys, and green spaces to reduce environmental impact while fostering community interaction. The third prize was given to Shivanthi Carpino, Jacob McKinney, Robert Court McClure, and Alison Catherine Ledwith from the USA for their project Red Rocks Rising, a modular, Passive House-inspired development integrating sustainable construction, natural ventilation, and resource-efficient systems for resilient urban living.
Buildner and the jury team carefully reviewed submissions, assessing originality, feasibility, and the potential to enhance urban housing through innovative and adaptable design strategies. Buildner and its jury extend their gratitude to all participants for their thoughtful contributions and congratulate the winners on their outstanding designs.
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1st Place
Detached Living
Anthony Barakat, Rita Alsemaani
Lebanon
“We participate in architecture competitions because they offer a rare opportunity to break away from the constraints of daily projects and routines, encouraging us to think more creatively and approach design with fresh eyes. As architects, it’s essential to embrace change, to question familiar processes, experiment with new ideas, and challenge ourselves to solve problems in innovative ways. Competitions provide this creative freedom, allowing us to tackle unique design briefs that push us to grow both individually and as a team. They also expose us to new architectural challenges, different cultural and environmental contexts, and evolving design trends from around the world. Beyond the design process itself, competitions are a valuable way to connect with other architects, designers, and creative minds, expanding our professional network and introducing our work to a broader audience. Ultimately, they help us stay inspired, adaptable, and engaged with the ever-changing nature of architecture.”
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JURY FEEDBACK summary
Detached Living is designed to enhance adaptability, sustainability, and urban integration. The building features a modular unit layout, organized around a central atrium that facilitates natural ventilation. The facade consists of movable louvers and sliding glass doors, allowing residents to regulate shading, airflow, and privacy. Prefabricated concrete and maple wood are employed for durability, thermal efficiency, and sustainability. Movable partitions within units enable spatial flexibility. External staircases separate vertical circulation from living spaces, optimizing safety and usable floor area. Rainwater collection, graywater recycling, and photovoltaic panels contribute to reduced resource consumption. The project aims to balance functional efficiency with environmental considerations while maintaining compliance with local building codes.
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2nd Place
Brick and bloom
Lisa-Marie Mélodie Deransy
France
“Participating in competitions on Buildner offers a rare opportunity to freely explore my ideas without being constrained by immediate financial decisions. It allows me to experiment with innovative architectural solutions, test sustainable approaches, and imagine spaces where creativity takes precedence over profitability. This is an essential approach to renewing architectural practice and anticipating the housing challenges of tomorrow.”
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JURY FEEDBACK summary
Brick and Bloom utilizes earth bricks, low-carbon concrete, and bioclimatic strategies to reduce environmental impact. Natural ventilation, solar chimneys, and dual-orientation units optimize thermal comfort and energy efficiency. Residences feature private green spaces and cantilevered balconies, enhancing urban biodiversity. Shared outdoor areas, including a rooftop garden and central courtyard, foster community interaction.
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3rd Place
Red Rocks Rising
Shivanthi Carpino, Jacob Mckinney, Robert Court Mcclure, Alison Catherine Ledwith
United States
“We are leaders and members of Studio X, a specialized design studio within Page, created to assist teams in delivering elevated design responses by enhancing the creative process and expanding design possibilities. Within Studio X, our FUTURES initiative is dedicated to design-fueled innovation—driving ideation and prototyping to explore new directions in design. Competitions provide a platform to engage with complex challenges, test emerging concepts, and develop solutions that spark meaningful dialogue. They encourage us to push beyond conventional constraints, producing work that is both visionary and technically rigorous. Competitions also give us the freedom to experiment, collaborate across disciplines, and refine ideas that may shape future projects. They challenge us to communicate bold concepts with clarity, deepening our understanding of design’s impact on the built environment.”
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JURY FEEDBACK summary
Red Rocks Rising is a modular, multifamily housing project integrating Passive House principles for energy efficiency and occupant comfort. The design utilizes prefabricated units to minimize waste and optimize construction time. A central atrium and external stairways enhance natural ventilation and daylight access, reducing reliance on mechanical systems. High-performance glazing, thermal bridge elimination, and airtight enclosures improve insulation and indoor climate control.
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Buildner Student Award
OutSide Inn
Beyzanur Koç
Turkey
“I believe that people grow and develop through challenges. For me, competitions provide the ideal environment to test my skills, reflect on them, and improve myself. These environments can feature diverse cultures, problems, and rules, which is the greatest richness of architecture competitions. Each project has its own dynamics, and the competition always encourages you to take one step further. At the end of the competition, beyond winning a prize or feeling a sense of satisfaction, the most important aspect is the personal growth and insights you gain along the way.”
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JURY FEEDBACK summary
OutSide-Inn is a modular project prioritizing circular design, sustainability, and community living. Constructed from prefabricated timber and recycled materials, the building reduces environmental impact while enabling adaptability. Solar panels generate electricity, and a central shaft system harvests and recycles water for irrigation and underfloor heating. The design promotes cross-ventilation and passive cooling, minimizing energy consumption.
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Buildner Sustainability Award
Beyond The Invisible
Uladzislau Chabai
Netherlands
“In a way, it is part of the educational process. Participating in competitions provides an opportunity to learn something new throughout the process while also offering freedom in decision-making.”
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JURY FEEDBACK summary
Beyond the Invisible is designed to balance urban integration, sustainability, and community engagement. The building’s mirrored façades reflect the surrounding environment, blending into the cityscape while maintaining a distinct visual presence. The structure is composed of prefabricated timber, optimizing efficiency and reducing environmental impact. Shared spaces, including a rooftop greenhouse and communal terraces, encourage social interaction and urban farming.
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HONORABLE MENTION
16 COURTYRADS
Zihao Wang, Xueer Ma, Yanyan Zhang
United States
“We participate in this architecture competition as young architects eager to engage with thought-provoking challenges, contribute our ideas to the industry, and continuously rethink the role of architecture. Competitions push us to explore innovative solutions, refine our design approach, and stay actively involved in the broader architectural discourse.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
Capitol Co-housing
Cadence Merrie Bayley
United States
“We do a very select number of competitions, and use them as a way to test design ideas or showcase a method or scale of working that we do not have previous experience in. We like the concise brief and constraints of a competition, but do not always enjoy the limited public/stakeholder engagement nor the minimal opportunity for reimbursement of labor. This one was about a code reform movement we have a deep passion for and wish to showcase its potential as a form of advocacy.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
Bundle House
Xuanyu Wei, Leyuan Li
United States
“We love to challenge ourselves, as well as challenging the architectural norm. It provides a platform where we imagine what the architecture can be and what it should be.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
The Silver Grove
Ali Ahmadi, Alireza Nazeri, Farnoosh Baratloo
Italy
“We participate in architecture competitions because they push the boundaries of creativity and innovation, allowing us to explore ideas beyond the constraints of everyday practice. They provide a platform to experiment, refine our design philosophy, and challenge ourselves alongside other talented professionals. Competitions also offer the opportunity to shape meaningful spaces that respond to real-world issues, from sustainability to cultural identity. Ultimately, they fuel our passion for architecture, helping us grow as designers while working on projects that have the potential to leave a lasting impact.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
ICHI
Aaron Paul Whalen
Canada
“Architecture competitions are food for creativity. It’s like a playground where I can push boundaries and break a few rules without worrying about permits, budgets, or clients.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
TOGETHERHAUS
Cheng Zhong, Shixuan Sun
United States
“Competitions offer a unique opportunity to explore ideas freely, without the usual constraints of budgets or client demands, enabling us to develop a strong architectural voice. They also foster professional growth by allowing us to engage with new technologies, learn from diverse perspectives, and continuously experiment and refine our design philosophy.”
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SHORTLISTED PROJECTS
