Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Basalt Facade and Glass Elements Create a Multifunctional Community Hub in a Volcanic Landscape

Basalt Facade and Glass Elements Create a Multifunctional Community Hub in a Volcanic Landscape
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed from local basalt and expansive glass, the multifunctional hub integrates seamlessly into the volcanic landscape, providing essential services and communal spaces for visitors and locals alike.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using locally sourced basalt, reinforcing the connection to the landscape.
02
Extensive glass facades provide panoramic views while enhancing natural lighting.
03
The bent A-frame design integrates seamlessly with the rugged terrain.
04
Sustainable energy solutions, including solar panels, are seamlessly incorporated.
05
Community-focused layout encourages social interaction and engagement among users.

### Project Overview

Located in Northern Iceland near Lake Myvatn, Viti í Fjöllunum integrates the region's environmental and geological characteristics into a multifunctional hub designed for both locals and tourists. The intent is to create a central space that facilitates engagement with the area's natural beauty and recreational opportunities. This report examines key elements of the design, including conceptual inspiration, material choices, spatial organization, and sustainability.

### Conceptual Framework and Architectural Form

The design draws from Iceland's volcanic terrain, reflecting the dynamic interplay of ice formations and basaltic rock. The architectural form employs a tilted rectangular geometry that establishes a dialogue with the surrounding landscape, appearing as a natural extension of the environment. Angled columnar elements support the structure while creating visually striking spaces that extend the views toward the mountains and landscape features. This approach fosters an emotional connection to the site, enhancing the user experience through a dialogue between architecture and nature.

### Material Selection and Construction Practices

Materiality plays a crucial role in reinforcing the connection between the building and its setting. The use of basalt columns not only serves structural purposes but also emphasizes local geology. Volcanic stone on the exterior links the design visually to the site’s volcanic heritage, while extensive glass features invite natural light into the spaces, enhancing the indoor-outdoor relationship. Warm wood finishes in the interior create a comforting contrast with the darker exterior materials. Structural steel contributes to the building’s durability and supports the overall aesthetic, reflecting contemporary sustainable practices through the use of eco-friendly materials and construction techniques.

### Spatial Organization and User Accessibility

The layout consists of two interlinked volumes to accommodate diverse functions. The primary volume includes communal areas such as an information point, warming zones, and self-service facilities, promoting social interaction and community engagement. The secondary volume is dedicated to practical functions, including changing rooms and restrooms, ensuring accessibility for all visitors. A connecting observation deck enhances the relationship between the two volumes, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The design’s thoughtful organization promotes straightforward navigation, allowing users to easily access amenities while enjoying multiple vantage points of the breathtaking environment.

### Sustainability Measures

Sustainability is embedded in the design through several innovative strategies. The incorporation of solar panels reduces the building's ecological footprint by harnessing renewable energy. High-performance insulation techniques enhance energy efficiency, vital for coping with Iceland's extreme weather conditions. Additionally, comprehensive water management systems are in place to address drainage concerns, reflecting a commitment to responsible environmental stewardship. Through these measures, the project establishes a model for future constructions in similar contexts, balancing modern architectural principles with ecological responsibility.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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

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

new
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
Early bird registration deadline 15 October 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 October 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
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
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

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