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 High-Performance Glass Integrate Seamlessly in an Eco-Friendly Lodging Experience

Authors:
Lihan Huang, Bofan Zhao
Charred Wooden Shingles and High-Performance Glass Integrate Seamlessly in an Eco-Friendly Lodging Experience
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Integrating charred wooden shingles and high-performance glass, the design offers a seamless blend of sustainability and aesthetic harmony, providing a unique lodging experience that invites occupants to connect with the natural beauty of Iceland's landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design incorporates charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and weather resistance.
02
Large, high-performance glass panels maximize natural light and provide unobstructed views of the auroras.
03
Community gardens are integrated into the landscape to promote local engagement and biodiversity.
04
The bent A-frame structure enhances thermal efficiency while echoing the natural topography.
05
Sustainable materials throughout the build reflect local resources, reinforcing the connection to Iceland's environment.

### Project Overview

Aurora Home, situated in Iceland (Coordinates: 65.631680, -16.928828), encompasses a building area of 300 square meters and was developed as a response to the 2018 Architecture Competition. The project aims to provide visitors with a distinctive experience of the Northern Lights, integrating harmoniously with the surrounding landscape while offering an immersive environment that highlights this natural phenomenon.

### Conceptual Framework

The architectural design draws inspiration from the aurora borealis, characterizing the structure with flowing lines and organic forms that mimic its dynamic movements. This approach seeks to enhance not just the visual aspects but also the sensory connections to the environment, encouraging interaction with the natural landscape. Adaptability is a core principle, with the design evolving alongside seasonal changes to create varied experiences throughout the year.

### Architectural Features

**Structure and Materiality:**
The building's undulating forms reflect the aurora, featuring expansive glass panels for unobstructed views of the night sky. Durable, weather-resistant materials were selected for the exterior, ensuring longevity under Iceland's climatic conditions. Interior spaces incorporate natural wood finishes, lending warmth, while stone and concrete provide stability that connects the structure to the earth.

**Functionality and Space Planning:**
Aurora Home includes specific areas such as a communal living room with panoramic views, a restaurant serving local cuisine, and a horse riding room for equestrian activities. The design supports seamless movement between indoor and outdoor spaces, with well-planned circulation pathways, enhancing user experience. The roof design adapts to seasonal variations, reflecting the changing landscape and further engaging visitors with their environment.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Pavilion Atlas 2026: Rethinking Nations Through Architectural Storytelling

`
Competition organisers

Buildner launches Pavilion Atlas 2026, a global architecture competition inviting designers to create conceptual pavilions that tell the story of a country. Participants are challenged to express cultural, social, environmental, or political identity through spatial storytelling, focusing on ideas rather than symbols or technical constraints. The competition offers a total prize fund of €20,000, with final registration open until September 16, 2026, and winners to be announced on December 8, 2026. All submissions will become part of a global design archive.

Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 16 September 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
new
The Oak 
Moon 
Pavilion

Design a yoga pavilion in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 27 August 2026
Vancouver 
Tall Challenge

Design the future of Vancouver’s skyline

Building higher downtown ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 9 September 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
Portugal Long Table 
Restaurant

Design a slow-living restaurant in Portugal

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 23 September 2026
New York High Falls 
Riverfront Market

Design a New Riverfront Market in Rochester, New York

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 7 October 2026
Valli Wine 
Tasting Room

Design a wine tasting room in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 8 October 2026
The 
Quiet 
Tower

Design an observation tower in Latvia

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 15 October 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 27 August 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
Final registration deadline 10 September 2026
new
Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #9 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
Early bird registration deadline 10 September 2026
Underbridge #2

Design housing in underutilized bridge spaces

Affordable Housing Edition #20 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 17 September 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
Final registration deadline 23 September 2026
The 
Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Stockholm Furniture Fair Edition #6 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award + Exhibition at Stockholm Furniture Fair
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 24 September 2026
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
Final registration deadline 30 September 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