This deliverable presents an in-depth exploration of distributed architectures within the NOUS project, emphasizing the integration of edge, cloud, and high-performance computing (HPC) layers to address contemporary computing challenges. It highlights the critical role of distributed systems in delivering scalability, fault tolerance, and interoperability for applications in IoT, AI, and real-time analytics. Key challenges such as latency, bandwidth constraints, data portability, and the diversity of standards and protocols are identified as major barriers to seamless edge-cloud interoperability. To overcome these, the deliverable recommends best practices, including adopting open standards, deploying data transformation solutions, and optimizing network infrastructure, to ensure robust and scalable system performance. Proposed architectural designs for NOUS focus on real-time data processing at the edge, secure data management, and resilient performance across distributed environments. These designs prioritize modularity and adaptability to align with the project's evolving requirements and technological advancements. The report concludes with strategic insights advocating for hierarchical frameworks, modular designs, and efficient resource allocation to establish a scalable, adaptive system capable of meeting the complex demands of NOUS while remaining flexible for future enhancements. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. Project no. 101135927