Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Burnt Wood Shingles and Basalt Walls Shaping Community Narratives

Author:
Wing Chun Ng
Burnt Wood Shingles and Basalt Walls Shaping Community Narratives
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed with burnt wood shingles and light-colored basalt walls, the Hall of the Moving Sagas serves as a communal hub for storytelling and cinema, deeply integrated into the Icelandic landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using sustainable materials, including burnt wood shingles and basalt walls.
02
The design prioritizes views of Hverfjall and Hlíðarfjall to enhance the connection with nature.
03
Intimate storytelling spaces accommodate diverse narrative formats, from oral traditions to film.
04
Raised timber boardwalks offer users access to lookout points integrating the building with its surroundings.
05
The Hall serves as a cultural hub, fostering community engagement through shared narratives.

The Hall of the Moving Sagas is located in Iceland’s striking landscape, designed to function as both a gathering space and a platform for cinema and storytelling. It reflects the Icelandic spirit through its architectural form and connection to the surrounding natural features. The design focuses on a long, narrow layout aimed at key views of Hverfjall and Hlíðarfjall, encouraging visitors to engage with the beautiful surroundings.

Design Concept
The Hall is built in a longitudinal shape that creates a fluid connection between the inside and the landscape outside. This design invites movement, leading visitors to explore the building while taking in the scenic views. The roof's expansive form enhances this openness, making the space welcoming and promoting community interactions.

Architectural Features
Sustainability and local building methods are key to the Hall's design. The roofing, made of Shou sugi ban burnt wood shingles, connects visually to the dark volcanic rock in the area. The light-colored basalt walls stand in contrast to the roof, providing balance and a clear link to the environment. The choice of materials reflects both the location and Iceland’s architectural heritage.

Interior Spaces
Inside, the Hall is designed for various communal activities, emphasizing storytelling's significance in Icelandic culture. There are intimate areas where storytelling can happen, fostering personal connections and reflection. These spaces are adaptable, accommodating traditional narratives as well as modern film presentations, allowing for a diverse range of experiences.

Connection to Landscape
A timber boardwalk circles the building, offering lookout points that enhance the experience of the natural setting. This feature encourages visitors to take in the surrounding beauty while adding to the building's role within the landscape. The concrete base provides stability for the Hall and creates a link between the structure and its environment, culminating in a design that harmonizes with the Icelandic landscape.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge #8

Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge #8

Design iconic urban sculptures for the prestigious Mujassam Watan competition and compete for 50,000 €

50,000 € PRIZE project COMPETITION
Prize 50,000 + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 28 May 2026

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
Rome 
Rain Rooms

Design rain rooms for Rome

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 28 May 2026
Mujassam Watan 
Urban Sculpture Challenge #8

Design iconic urban sculptures for the prestigious Mujassam Watan competition and compete for 50,000 €

50,000 € PRIZE project COMPETITION
Prize 50,000 + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 28 May 2026
new
Portugal Long Table 
Restaurant

Design a slow-living restaurant in Portugal

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 8 July 2026
Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 16 September 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

MICROHOME 2026

Design a new concept of small-scale home and share a prize fund of 100,000€

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 27 May 2026
Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #8 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 18 June 2026
new
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 18 June 2026
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 #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 2 July 2026
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026

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

100,000€ Prize / 2026 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 9 July 2026
Underbridge #2

Design housing in underutilized bridge spaces

Affordable Housing Edition #20 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 July 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