Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Catalan Vaults Embracing Nature in a Sustainable Residence and Education Complex

Authors:
Ryo Murata, Isabelle Nobayashi, Chenyin Xu, Hiroki Moriya
Catalan Vaults Embracing Nature in a Sustainable Residence and Education Complex
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Employing Catalan vaults and Cross-Laminated Timber, the residence and education complex harmonizes with its landscape, creating accessible spaces that foster community engagement and artistic expression.
5 key facts about this project
01
Residency and Workshop incorporate traditional Catalan vault roofing for structural support and thermal efficiency.
02
Cross-Laminated Timber is used to create a comfortable environment in the Hostel and coworking areas.
03
The site features a dedicated Meditation Center promoting health and well-being through open spaces.
04
Natural light is strategically utilized to enhance the ambience and encourage creativity in communal areas.
05
The design integrates farming elements to foster interaction with the surrounding landscape.

The project is an artists' residence and education complex that connects closely with the natural landscape. Located in an area with varied terrain, the design draws inspiration from principles of biomimicry and sustainability. The focus is on how people interact with nature, creating an environment that supports creativity and community.

Architectural Composition

The complex features structures with forms that resemble mountains, allowing them to blend into the landscape. The Residency and Workshop are particularly notable for their elegant Catalan vault roofs. These roofs are both functional and visually appealing, providing support while enhancing the thermal efficiency of the buildings. The overall design promotes views of the landscape, reinforcing the connection between the architecture and the surrounding environment.



Wellness and Community

Central to the design is the Meditation Center, which emphasizes health and well-being. Open spaces and pathways encourage accessibility and interaction with nature. The arrangement of this center invites visitors to engage with their surroundings, fostering a sense of calm and reflection. Users can enjoy the natural setting, making the experience of being outdoors a daily part of life in the complex.



Central Hub

The Hostel is strategically located at the top of a hill, serving as a gathering point. Accommodating up to 40 guests, it features common areas such as a restaurant and café. These spaces are designed to encourage social connections among visitors. The building's design allows for plenty of natural light and airflow, creating a comfortable atmosphere for those who use the facilities.



Materiality and Techniques

The project uses traditional materials and construction techniques, which add to its character. Catalan vaults are employed to ensure structural strength while providing an aesthetic appeal. Cross-Laminated Timber, or CLT, is used in the Hostel and coworking areas to promote a sustainable approach to building. Additional finishes like gypsum plaster and broken tiles contribute to the durability and thermal performance of the structures.

The way light enters the buildings creates a welcoming ambiance. This design detail not only highlights the artistic activities within the space but also enhances the overall environment, making it conducive to creativity and collaboration among users.

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