Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

A Geometric Forest-Embedded Cabin with Bark Shingles and Light Shafts

Authors:
Verena Hornig, Javid Alibhai, Malika Butt, Ola-ife Ojo
A Geometric Forest-Embedded Cabin with Bark Shingles and Light Shafts
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Elevated above the forest floor by a cable system, this cabin utilizes bark shingles and light shafts to create a harmonious living space that fosters connection with nature and promotes introspection.
5 key facts about this project
01
Retractable ladder optimizes vertical space in the cabin.
02
Tatami mat area specifically designed for personal reflection.
03
Light shafts enhance airflow and capture seasonal sunlight.
04
Timber construction minimizes environmental impact among trees.
05
Bark shingles promote new growth and ecological harmony.

Nur is designed as a meditative cabin located in a forest, designed to become a part of the natural landscape. It serves as a space for living and reflection, inviting users to connect with their environment. The overall design emphasizes the relationship between the individual, the structure, and the ecosystem. By fostering awareness of how flora, fauna, and the cosmos interconnect, the project promotes a sense of unity.

Spatial Configuration

Inside, the layout is designed to accommodate various activities while promoting a calm atmosphere. The entryway features a retractable ladder, which optimizes the use of vertical space. A meditation area with a tatami mat encourages personal reflection. The food preparation zone includes a sink and wood stove, while the privy is equipped with a compost toilet and a decomposition chamber for waste management.

Light and Ventilation

Light shafts rise above the cabin, improving natural light and enhancing airflow. They act as the building's lungs, allowing fresh air to circulate and creating a refreshing environment. These shafts are positioned to capture sunlight during different times of the year, establishing a dialogue between the inside and outside. This interaction strengthens the connection with the natural environment and enhances the user experience.

Construction and Sustainable Material Choices

The design incorporates machine fabrication and off-site assembly techniques to enhance efficiency and promote an eco-friendly approach. Timber is the primary material, allowing the structure to harmonize with the surrounding forest. Elevated above the ground, the cabin is supported by cables anchored to posts within tree trunks, minimizing its environmental impact and enabling it to blend into its natural setting.

The materials used for Nur demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility, including plywood, vapor barriers, insulation, oriented strand board (OSB), bark shingles, and steel cables. The bark shingles serve a functional purpose while promoting new growth, aligning the project with its ecological context. These choices aim to balance aesthetics with ecological considerations. As the sun moves, light shafts create patterns within the cabin, casting natural shadows that shift throughout the day and inviting users to engage in contemplation and connection with the forest.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

`
Competition organisers

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025

Open architecture competitions

  • Closest deadline first
  • Project competitions first
    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
new
The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025
new
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 26 November 2025
Concrete 
Pavilion

Design a concrete pavilion

Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025
new
Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 21 January 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025
new
The Home of 
Shadows

Design a home with no artificial lighting

The light studies. Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility OPEN TO ALL
Early bird registration deadline 5 November 2025
The Last 
Nuclear Bomb Memorial

Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

Edition #6 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 13 November 2025
new
The Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 20 November 2025
Hospice - 
Home for the 
Terminally ill

Design a safe and supportive space to those struggling with a terminal illness

Edition #5 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 10,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 26 November 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 26 November 2025
Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #7 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025
Re:Form - 
New Life 
for Old Spaces

Choose a site—used, abandoned, or forgotten—anywhere in the world, and give it a new purpose

Edition #2 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 3 December 2025
The Architect’s 
Stair

Take a step and make a statement!

Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 15 January 2026

Media, partners and clients

To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy