Home of Shadows winners eschew artificial lighting in latest challenge

The selection of three prize winners of the third annual Home of Shadows international architecture ideas competition has been made by the six-member panel assembled by Buildner.

For the competition, light was elevated to a primary design ‘language.’ Contestants were challenged to design a home for a hypothetical couple with artificial lighting allowed inside. Organizers say 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.”

The proposals you’ll see prefer multiple devices and strategies to incorporate natural light into their architectural designs. You can compare them with the winners from 2024’s Home of Shadows #2 competition here.

1st Prize + Buildner Student Award

Vessel Of Light by Yujie Weng and Jiangyiwen Zhang (New Zealand)

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. Plantings, textured walls, and shifting shadows enhance the spatial character. The architecture leverages topography and solar orientation to maintain natural illumination without the need for large external openings."

You can read an interview with the 1st Prize winners here.

2nd Prize

Aperture by Qianzhi Shao (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. Spatial boundaries blur as rotating partitions reconfigure light and enclosure throughout the day. The project explores how architecture can express the rhythm of time through changing apertures, creating fluid transitions shaped by light and shadow."

3rd Prize

Łódź, Wschodnia 13 by Anna Agnieszka Jaruga-Rozdolska (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. Light is treated as a narrative element—marking time, revealing surfaces, and guiding movement. The house stages a transition between illumination and obscurity, using architectural form to choreograph sensory and temporal perception."

You can read an interview with the 3rd Prize winner here.

Buildner Sustainability Award

Dappled Sun House by Emily Mei Ta and Adrian Kevin Wong (USA)

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. Water features, vegetation, and adjustable wooden louvers help manage heat and moisture. The design integrates daily routines with environmental rhythms, minimizing the boundary between interior and exterior."

You can read their interview here.