AIA New Jersey Recognizes Winners of the Architecture Week 2025 K-12 Challenge: Future Home 2150
2025 marks the 125th anniversary of AIA New Jersey, and to celebrate we invited all the children of New Jersey to enter a statewide K-12 design competition during Architecture Week that imagines what a home might look like 125 years from now in the year 2150. Students were asked to include an image (a drawing or a photo of a model) and a short description of their future home. Entries were reviewed by AIA New Jersey President Andrew Thompson, AIA, NOMAC; Women in Architecture Chair Erin Sharp-Newton, M. Arch; and State Associate Representative Michael Rosado, Associate AIA. The top designs in each of the Elementary School, Middle School and High School categories won a $100 Amazon Gift Card.
Take a look at the designs recognized by our jury!
Elementary School – First Place Award
Cody Matthews
First Grade
Hopewell Township, NJ
A house in 2150 will be a dome shape because that is a strong shape, have a green roof with plants to keep the house cool, have solar panels facing east, up, and west for energy from the sun, use barrels to catch rain from the roof to save water, and sit on high ground with native plants that have long roots to protect it from floods. My future house is made from recycled rebar and recycled concrete and is good for the earth and people.
Elementary School – Honorable Mention
Shanaya Bhartiya
Third Grade
Pennington, NJ
101 Horse Avenue, is my dream home, shaped like a horse- my favorite animal. It has zero gravity room, a slide that runs from the roof and a tent that is held by the horse’s mouth. It has plenty of stairs and elevators for young and old – it has room for everyone!
Middle School – First Place Award
Giavonni Johnson
Eighth Grade
Trenton, NJ
Futuristic modern home located in outer space on planet Crutonia, Earth’s former sister. It is surrounded by plants nearby in the solar system and is currently owned by some mysterious alien.
Middle School – Honorable Mention
Saige Crafton
Eighth Grade
Teaneck, NJ
My futuristic home is used for growing different type of herbs, fruits, and vegetables. The roof is used as a garden to get food fast, fresh, and easily. My house has many different windows to bring in sunlight, so that their isn’t much use of electricity. I know my house would be good to have in 2150 since it would be able to keep the environment cooler and more sustainable for us to live on longer.
Middle School – Honorable Mention
Marina
Eighth Grade
Cranford, NJ
Since pollution and everyone being exposed to toxic gases, families decided to move out of America and to more calm, peaceful, isolated areas such as the ocean. This house is a very open concept and many great features for a house; such as stairs from the ocean to the platform in case anyone wanted it go for a swim, and lounge chairs and an outdoor kitchen for barbecues or parties.
High School – First Place Award
Marcel Wolosik
Ninth Grade
Hamburg, NJ
CloudDeck One is a floating home that hovers above the clouds using cold fusion-powered ion thrusters and AI-controlled stabilizers. Built from lightweight titanium-aluminum alloy, it features an infinity pool, a modular smart interior, and a personal hoverjet dock — all fully powered by unlimited clean energy in a self-sustaining, off-grid design.
High School – First Place Award
Ines Nedeska
Twelfth Grade
Jefferson Township, NJ
In the year 2150, a person (Elo) seeks a shelter that offers both protection and comfort in a world ruled by robots. In the city, Zero Dawn, people are unable to go outside past dawn due to lethal machines. Beyond the city’s control, an abandoned farm holds a silo that Elo has transformed into a high-tech lab, glowing with lights, as well as a glass dome garden that provides fresh air, food, and light, offering a safe haven from the polluted skies.
High School – First Place Award
Justin Ren
Eleventh Grade
Edison, NJ
Residing in the world of the future, full of ever ongoing threats of climate change and pollution, high up in the alps along a river bank lays my model. The structure consists of biodegradable materials and a clean transportation system via thermal and hydro powered aerial tramways to support the idea of a clean future.
High School – Honorable Mention
Mason Giamo
Twelfth Grade
Glen Ridge, NJ
This future-style house has a smooth, curved shape, big round windows, and soft glowing lights, making it look modern and creative.
High School – Honorable Mention
Maya Kitov
Tenth Grade
Ridgewood, NJ
The future will offer accessible 3D printed houses that could match the environment they are in. This house takes a more fluid shape reflecting the flow of water. The houses also utilize green roofs to prioritize reusable and clean energy.
High School – Honorable Mention
Kokone Jeffers
Eleventh Grade
Bayonne, NJ
In 2150, Sky City will replace current cities with floating ones. As depicted in the design to the right, Sky City will utilize floating land masses to build technologically innovative architecture whilst promoting the preservation of land on Earth.
Congratulations to our winners and THANK YOU to all the teachers, parents, and students who supported and participated in this competition!
Diane and Ben Lee Design Education Fund
While we have your attention, we invite you to apply for the Diane and Ben Lee K-12 Design Education Fund. and encourage your qualifying high school students to apply for the Architects League High School Student Scholarship.
Deadline for both is May 13th, 2025.
The Architecture Week 2025 K-12 Challenge is sponsored by AIA New Jersey, a Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the professional organization that helps architects serve the public’s needs and builds awareness of the role of architects and architecture in American society. Today, with headquarters in Washington, DC, and nearly 300 local chapters, the organization represents 70,000 licensed architects and associated professionals.
Architects are creative professionals, educated, trained, and experienced in the art and science of building design, and licensed to practice architecture. Their designs respond to client needs, wants and vision, protect public safety, provide economic value, are innovative, inspire and contribute positively to the community and the environment.
This challenge is designed and administered by Joseph David, AIA, and made possible by a grant from the American Institute of Architects.
Learn more about AIA New Jersey at www.aia-nj.org
