The ArchDaily Building of the Year award is an annual competition that celebrates outstanding architecture from around the world. The award is organized by ArchDaily, one of the most visited architecture websites in the world, and has been running since 2009.

The Building of the Year award covers 15 different categories, including housing, office buildings, cultural projects, educational institutions, and public architecture.

Today we're publishing 5 finalist projects from the House category, one of which you can vote for until February 23, 2023.

Mirai House of Arches, India. Architects Sanjay Puri Architects.

Mirai is a contextual house located on a small corner plot of 622 sqm within a residential villa layout, in Rajasthan, India. Due to the location, the southern and eastern sides of the plot have minimal open space with adjacent villas planned to be built in the future. In contrast, the northern and western sides, which face a road junction, have more open spaces with garden areas and existing trees.

The design of the house is aimed at minimizing heat gain in response to the hot climate of the region, where temperatures can exceed 40°C for eight months of the year. The sculptural design of the house responds to its context, the climate, and the owner's needs, creating a dynamic play of volumes, open, enclosed, and semi-enclosed spaces at each level.

The design prioritizes energy efficiency by reducing heat gain and providing indirect natural light throughout the house. The house is constructed using locally sourced materials, such as bricks, sandstone, and lime plaster, with local craftsmen and contract labor from the immediate vicinity. The house incorporates sustainable features, such as water recycling, rainwater harvesting, and solar panels for energy generation, making it a climate-responsive and eco-friendly residence.

Tejocote House, Mexico. Architects González Muchow Arquitectura.

Casa Tejocote is a 650 square meter single-family home in Querétaro, Mexico, featuring a simple composition and materials that represent the region's vernacular architecture. The house has a warm and simple atmosphere in both interior and exterior spaces, with pigmented concrete in a tepetate color shade used to create a welcoming character that matches the landscape and natural light. The structure is made of reinforced concrete elements, and thick walls poured in layers every 80 centimeters that shape the main volumes. The orthogonal rigidity of the volumes is balanced by curved details to create a sensitive relationship towards spatial geometry.

Glass House Germany. Architects Sigurd Larsen.

Glass House — это уединенный дом для небольшой семьи и гостей на выходные недалеко Берлина, позволяющий отдохнуть в тихой сельской местности рядом с заповедным лесом и озерами.

Glass House is a weekend retreat for a small family and guests in Uckermark, north of Berlin, allowing for a peaceful countryside experience near the preserved forest and lakes. The house has a simple floor plan with a curved wall creating privacy towards the road, and all rooms overlooking the west-facing open landscape with access to a large covered terrace. The staircase and kitchen block are built into solid volumes of concrete bricks, framing the main living space. The wooden structure of the roof forms a greenhouse studio for creative work, offering views of the changing weather and daylight.

The house seamlessly merges indoor and outdoor spaces in the warm season, while the compact, insulated one-story house provides a cozy and intimate space in the winter, with the greenhouse functioning as an extra feature.

House in Pomar do Cafeza, Brasil. Architects Coletivo LEVANTE.

The house was constructed on a slanted 70m² plot, where two 3×3m structural modules were fitted on two levels, along with a small extension leaning against the border.

The house blends in with the surrounding ceramic brick constructions of the slum, "Aglomerado da Serra".

The size of the house is determined by the classic block of 8 holes, placed horizontally to ensure better thermal inertia and wider walls. This approach is uncommon in slums as vertical settlement is faster and more profitable. The modular element is used in different ways, like a latticework wall or combined with concrete blocks for structural purposes. The vernacular architecture of the slum is maintained in the construction, while the flow of rainwater, natural ventilation, lighting, and temperature control were carefully considered. The house offers an extraordinary view unique to the city.

"Casa no Pomar do Cafezal" is the second project of "LEVANTE", a group of architects, students, and engineers led by Fernando Maculan and Joana Magalhães, whose aim is to create designs, collaborate with suppliers and sponsors for slum architecture in Belo Horizonte. The house design uses common slum materials, with proper implementation and attention to lighting and ventilation, resulting in a space with great environmental quality.

Labri House, Vietnam. Architects Nguyen Khai Architects & Associates.

Labri is a secret shelter built for a couple in Hue city, Vietnam. It has four randomly placed blocks covered by glass, vines, and concrete and is surrounded by trees and other living creatures. There are no interior walls to separate spaces and no exterior walls to block the view of the outside world. Frangipani trees are grown on top, providing shade in the dry season and protection in the rainy season. Labri is designed for those who want to find inner peace and reconnect with nature, and the minimalist approach to design leads to a sustainable value.

Which project do you think is worthy of being named a winner? You can leave your vote on the ArchDaily website until February 23.

The ArchDaily Building of the Year award is designed to be a democratic and inclusive celebration of the best in contemporary architecture, with projects from both established and emerging architects being recognized. The award has gained a reputation as one of the most prestigious in the industry, with winning projects receiving international recognition and exposure.