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 Sustainable Timber Form a Cozy Ski Retreat in Iceland

Charred Wooden Shingles and Sustainable Timber Form a Cozy Ski Retreat in Iceland
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed with charred wooden shingles and sustainably sourced timber, this ski cabin integrates seamlessly into the Icelandic landscape, offering essential amenities for outdoor recreation and relaxation.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with charred wooden shingles, enhancing durability and weather resistance.
02
Utilizes cross-laminated timber panels for structural efficiency and sustainability.
03
Incorporates a bent A-frame design to maximize thermal performance and aesthetic appeal.
04
Features a viewing deck that offers expansive panoramas of the surrounding landscape.
05
Equipped with a geothermal heating system to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.

### Project Overview

The Myvatn Ski and Snow Cabin is located in Iceland, positioned between the Krafla crater, Myvatn Lake, and the Nature Baths. The facility aims to serve as a recreational hub, enhancing user engagement with the surrounding landscape while showcasing a blend of functional design and aesthetic value. The project's intent is to create a building that seamlessly integrates into its environment and adheres to principles of sustainability.

### Spatial Organization

The cabin's layout is systematically designed to balance communal and private spaces, facilitating both interaction and individual reflection. Key features include a self-service snack bar (25 m²) for guest refreshments, changing rooms (20 m²) for convenience post-activity, and a warm-up room (32 m²) that offers comfortable seating for relaxation. A designated ski repair and rental area (20 m²) provides essential services for skiing enthusiasts, while a spacious viewing deck (40 m²) encourages appreciation of the panoramic landscape. The thoughtful arrangement of these functional areas promotes a fluid connection between the indoor spaces and the natural environment.

### Material Selection

Materiality is a central focus of the design, reflecting a commitment to sustainability and local resources. Prefabricated wooden walls, sourced from sustainably managed timber, offer structural stability while minimizing construction waste. The use of sheep wool insulation capitalizes on a local resource, providing effective temperature control in the region's harsh climate. A concrete core serves dual purposes by functioning as a thermal mass that enhances energy efficiency and structural integrity. Additionally, energy-efficient windows allow natural light to permeate, while also delivering insulation against cold conditions. Collectively, these materials contribute to the building’s practical and environmental objectives.

### Sustainability Measures

Sustainability initiatives are integral to the cabin's design, with a geothermal heating system harnessing the earth’s thermal energy to reduce the carbon footprint. This design approach not only focuses on energy efficiency but also aims to ensure user comfort. By integrating innovative technologies to address climate challenges, the cabin highlights architecture's potential to evolve within its environmental context while enhancing the visitor experience.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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 Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
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
Rome 
Rain Rooms

Design a rain room for Rome

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 14 January 2026
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 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 Home of 
Shadows

Design a home with no artificial lighting

The light studies. Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 14 January 2026
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
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
Early bird registration deadline 11 February 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