Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Carbonized Wood Cube Serving as Forest Meditation Shelter

Authors:
Lucrezia Corna, Alessandro Leonel Medina Bocanegra, Stoyan Gerchev
Carbonized Wood Cube Serving as Forest Meditation Shelter
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed with carbonized wood, this cube-shaped structure integrates seamlessly with its forest environment, offering a dedicated space for meditation while promoting sustainability through its thoughtful design.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed entirely with carbonized wood for enhanced durability and sustainability.
02
Features a cube form that optimizes both structural integrity and spatial efficiency.
03
Utilizes high ceilings in the meditation area to evoke a sense of openness.
04
Incorporates strategically placed openings inspired by natural shelters for ventilation.
05
Designed to minimize its physical footprint, respecting the surrounding forest environment.

The design explores the relationship between built spaces and nature, set in a forest environment. The structure emphasizes harmony with its surroundings. The concept starts with a basic shape—a cube—that represents human shelter. This simple form contrasts with the organic shape of trees, aiming to merge the advantages of both natural and built environments.

Design Organization

The structure features three distinct levels, each serving a particular function. The ground floor accommodates services and storage, reduced in size to minimize its footprint. This layout reflects a commitment to sustainable practices by efficiently using space. The first floor is designed for living areas, positioned to enhance access to natural light, which contributes to energy efficiency and comfort. The upper floor acts as a meditation space, characterized by high ceilings that create an environment suitable for reflection and calmness.

Integration with Nature

The design prioritizes a strong connection between the interior and the forest. Openings are carefully placed to mimic natural shelters, which allows fresh air and light to flow through the space. This connection encourages occupants to engage with the landscape, fostering a sense of place and enhancing the experience of those inside.

Materials and Sustainability

Sustainability plays an essential role in the material choices for the structure. Carbonized wood serves as the primary building material, chosen for its durability and eco-friendly properties. The process of carbonization increases the wood's lifespan while promoting the use of renewable resources. Such material selection aligns with the overall goal of creating an environmentally responsible design, while also adding a tactile quality to the building.

Spatial Experience

Cubic forms define the architectural expression, creating a clear and recognizable silhouette. The indoor layout is designed for functionality and adaptability, catering to the diverse needs of its occupants. The interaction of light and shadow throughout the interior enhances the spatial experience. As daylight shifts, the atmosphere within the building changes, enriching the environment. It becomes a space for meditation, inviting users to fully immerse themselves in their surroundings and reflect within the tranquil setting.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
100,000€ Prize / 2026

The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

`
Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

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

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

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
new
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
Early bird registration deadline 26 February 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