Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Circular Retreat Featuring Natural Light and Flexible Timber Design

Circular Retreat Featuring Natural Light and Flexible Timber Design
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Crafted from modular timber and designed with large glass elements to maximize natural light, this circular space offers an adaptable environment for mindfulness and reflection.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using cross-laminated timber panels for enhanced stability and sustainability.
02
Designed with charred wooden shingles, offering improved weather resistance and unique aesthetics.
03
Incorporates large glass panels to blur the lines between interior space and nature.
04
Features modular design elements, allowing for flexible reconfiguration based on user preferences.
05
Utilizes a bent A-frame structure to optimize space and create dynamic interior environments.

### Project Overview

The Mindfulness Pod is situated in an urban context that addresses the increasing need for spaces dedicated to mental clarity and well-being. This micro-architecture is designed to foster mindfulness amidst the distractions prevalent in contemporary life, aiming to create environments that encourage individuals to engage actively with their surroundings.

### Design Parameters

The design philosophy emphasizes three core aspects:

1. **Awareness and Presence**: The structure is intended as a refuge for reflection and meditation, encouraging users to cultivate an awareness of their mental and emotional states.

2. **Human-Centric Approach**: Features are integrated to align with the natural rhythms of human activity, promoting a more intentional engagement with daily routines and countering the pervasive sense of busyness.

3. **Connection to Nature**: The incorporation of natural elements into the design enhances ecological awareness and fosters a relationship between users and their environment, promoting both mental and physical wellness.

### Spatial Arrangement and Materialization

The Mindfulness Pod utilizes distinct spatial configurations and material choices to enhance user experience:

- **Shape and Structure**: The circular design symbolizes wholeness and continuity, fostering organic interactions within the space. An asymmetrical layout further deviates from traditional geometric forms, enhancing user engagement.

- **Material Selection**: Key materials include timber for structural warmth, glass for visual connectivity and separation, stone or concrete for stability, and textiles for comfort. These selections contribute to a cohesive sensory experience.

- **Interior Layout**: Soft seating areas and indoor plants create a relaxing environment while improving air quality, thus reinforcing the pod's purpose as a space for contemplation.

### Sources of Inspiration

The design draws inspiration from biological elements and the concept of impermanence. Fractal geometry informs the spatial fluidity, allowing adaptability to varying environmental conditions. Additionally, the use of flexible materials, such as foldable screens, facilitates dynamic experiences throughout the day, reflecting the changing interactions with light and space.

This architectural design serves not only as a functional space but contributes to broader societal engagement by promoting a lifestyle centered around presence and connection.

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