Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Charred Wooden Shingles and Cross-Laminated Timber Embrace Nature in a Modern Retreat

Author:
Motienko Yuriy
Charred Wooden Shingles and Cross-Laminated Timber Embrace Nature in a Modern Retreat
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Utilizing charred wooden shingles and cross-laminated timber, the cabins are designed to blend into their forested surroundings while providing sustainable lodging for trekking enthusiasts.
5 key facts about this project
01
Charred wooden shingles enhance durability and resistance to weather conditions.
02
Cross-laminated timber construction enables efficient assembly and structural integrity.
03
The bent A-frame design aids in snow shedding and maximizes interior space.
04
Modular layout allows for flexible reconfiguration across diverse terrains.
05
Strategically placed glazing provides panoramic views while maintaining privacy.

## Overview

The Amber Road Trekking Cabins are positioned along scenic trekking paths, designed to provide shelter and retreat for outdoor enthusiasts. The project integrates modularity and sustainability within the natural landscape, ensuring that the structures complement rather than overshadow their surroundings. The intent is to create a residential space that emphasizes comfort while fostering a deeper connection to the outdoor environment.

### Design Layout

The site consists of three primary structures, each with a distinct purpose and a cohesive design. Cabin 1 and Cabin 2 are each approximately 8.1 square meters, strategically oriented to take advantage of natural light and views of the forest. The Dining Cabin, measuring around 10.3 square meters, serves as a communal space, promoting social interaction among guests. Additional outdoor features, including terraces and barbecue spaces, encourage an active outdoor lifestyle. The layout prioritizes accessibility between structures and centers around a communal fireplace to enhance community engagement.

### Materiality and Sustainability

The choice of materials is critical to both the aesthetic and functional aspects of the cabins. Structural wood, primarily sourced from pine, is used for its natural qualities; the interior features a light tone for warmth, while a dark, charred exterior, achieved through the YAKISUGI technique, provides durability and visual appeal. Steico-flex insulation is employed to bolster thermal efficiency, aligning with sustainability goals. A stone chimney adds traditional craftsmanship, reinforcing the connection to its natural setting while serving as a functional design element.

### Architectural Form and Modularity

The cabins are distinguished by steeply pitched roofs and angular forms, creating a modern silhouette that is both functional and visually integrated into the forest backdrop. This geometric design facilitates snow shedding during winter, enhancing the structural longevity. The modular construction allows for adaptability, enabling each unit to function independently or collectively based on the needs of guests. This approach reflects current architectural trends towards flexibility and environmental awareness, supporting various geographical applications.

Large glazing elements throughout the cabins ensure ample natural light and provide expansive views of the surrounding landscape, inviting residents to engage with nature. This focus on interaction with the environment reinforces the overall theme of outdoor connection and experiential living.

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