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 Expansive Glass Façades Define A Sustainable Visitor Gateway

Authors:
Hendrik Verlinden, Nathalie Havelange, Andreu Vélez
Charred Wooden Shingles and Expansive Glass Façades Define A Sustainable Visitor Gateway

Project in-detail

Crafted with charred wooden shingles and a transparent glass façade, the visitor gateway enhances the natural environment while providing essential access and services to Pape Nature Park.
5 key facts about this project
01
Designed with a bent A-frame structure to enhance natural light penetration.
02
Incorporates locally sourced charred wooden shingles for durability and aesthetic harmony.
03
Features extensive glass façades to create visual connectivity with the landscape.
04
Utilizes screw piles for foundational support, minimizing site disruption.
05
Includes colored planters integrated into the design to emphasize environmental engagement.

The Pape Nature Park Gateway is a purposeful architectural intervention designed as the primary entrance to Pape Nature Park. Situated within a natural landscape, this project integrates seamlessly with its surroundings while serving vital visitor functions. The design emphasizes a connection to nature and facilitates the flow of visitors entering the park.

The gateway consists of multiple volumes, each catering to specific operational needs such as ticket sales, visitor gathering areas, and accommodations. This arrangement supports both functional requirements and the architectural intent of creating a welcoming environment. The overall layout encourages exploration and interaction with the surrounding landscape.

Unique Design Approaches

A fundamental aspect of the Pape Nature Park Gateway is its emphasis on sustainability and local resource utilization. The structure employs locally sourced timber, integrating natural materials into the architecture, contributing to a warm aesthetic while minimizing environmental impact. The inclusion of steel for structural support and large glass panels enhances the building's transparency, promoting an unobstructed view of the park scenery.

The adaptive energy systems, including solar panels and wind turbines, showcase the design's commitment to environmental responsibility, allowing for energy independence and reduced reliance on external power sources. These features make the building not just a functional entry point but also a model for sustainable architecture in natural contexts.

Architectural details such as outdoor seating areas and pathways lead visitors from the entrance into the heart of the park, enhancing their experience and encouraging them to engage more deeply with nature. The design incorporates careful consideration of spatial relationships, guiding users through varied elevations and vistas, facilitating an immersive journey from architecture to landscape.

Functional Spaces and Visitor Experience

Key functional spaces within the Pape Nature Park Gateway include the ticket booth, a common area equipped with kitchen facilities, and adjacent sleeping quarters designed for staff and visitors. Each area is thoughtfully separated yet visually connected, allowing for ease of movement and interaction. The design promotes social gatherings while maintaining areas for solitude and reflection, catering to diverse user needs.

Careful attention to the spatial organization enhances visitor flow, with entrances that respect the natural topography. Unique features such as colored planters are integrated throughout the site, reinforcing thematic connections to the surrounding landscape and providing visual interest.

The Pape Nature Park Gateway stands out in architectural practice due to its emphasis on creating a dialogue between structure and environment. By reviewing architectural plans, sections, designs, and ideas related to this project, readers can gain insight into the project's concepts and its role within the landscape. Exploring the presentation further will provide a comprehensive understanding of the architectural strategies employed in this design.

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

The Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge invites architects and designers to create iconic public sculptures for one of two sites in Saudi Arabia: Abu Hadriyah Road or the Tharwa Sea Front in Al-Khobar. Proposals should reflect Saudi identity, culture, and future aspirations.

`

The Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge is an international architecture and design competition inviting creatives to shape the future of Saudi Arabia’s public spaces. With a total prize fund of €50,000, the competition calls for sculptural proposals that merge cultural symbolism with innovative design, offering participants a chance to see their concepts brought to life in a rapidly transforming national context.

Organised by Buildner in partnership with the Mujassam Watan Initiative, the challenge focuses on two prominent locations: Abu Hadriyah Road, a major highway and gateway into the Eastern Province, and the Tharwa Sea Front in Al-Khobar, a pedestrian-focused waterfront district. Designers must select one site and develop a sculpture that engages with its surroundings—whether addressing the fast-paced dynamism of a transit corridor or creating moments of interaction along a coastal promenade.

Proposals should be bold, site-specific, and rooted in narrative—drawing on themes such as heritage, national identity, transformation, and dialogue. Environmental responsiveness, material durability, and feasibility are strongly encouraged, as winning projects may be selected for actual construction.

Each submission must include four A2 landscape presentation boards, a cover image, and a written project description. The competition is open to professionals and students alike, working individually or in teams of up to four people. No professional license is required.

Registration is open until July 24, 2025, with final submissions due by August 27, 2025. Winners will be announced on October 1, 2025.

Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge

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
Final registration deadline 24 July 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #2
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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