Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Coconut Palm Cladding and Timber Huts for Mindful Living

Author:
Alyssa Bullock
Coconut Palm Cladding and Timber Huts for Mindful Living
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Utilizing coconut palm cladding and timber construction, the design creates a series of individual huts that foster mindfulness and community engagement in a hot and humid climate.
5 key facts about this project
01
Coconut palm cladding enhances natural insulation properties.
02
Timber huts are designed for climate responsiveness and ventilation.
03
The layout encourages both individual meditation and community interaction.
04
An underground water collection system efficiently repurposes rainwater.
05
Spatial arrangement blurs the lines between interior and exterior environments.

The design reflects a thoughtful exploration of the connection between yoga principles and the built environment. Located in a hot and humid climate, the structure emphasizes unity between mind and body, promoting a deep relationship with nature. The overall concept prioritizes balance, using asymmetry and spatial variations to create a fluid experience that bridges the interior with the exterior.

Balance and Asymmetry

The design employs spatial tension to dissolve boundaries between inside and outside spaces. Shapes of varying sizes play a key role, enhancing contrasts of light against dark, and vertical against horizontal elements. This interaction enriches the sensory experience of the architecture, offering moments that invite both privacy and openness. The elevation showcases these oppositions, capturing the dynamic relationship between different planes.

Sustainable Practices

Sustainability is a central theme in the design, especially important in regions with challenging climates. Natural ventilation is a focus, allowing air to move through various spaces, creating comfort for users. Roofs are designed to tilt, helping to manage rainfall efficiently by directing water into an underground collection system for reuse. These strategies reflect an understanding and respect for the local environment, while also minimizing the ecological impact of the structure.

Material Selection

Material choices further enhance the building’s connection with its surroundings. Timber frames and coconut palm wood cladding are not only visually appealing, but also connect the structure to the natural world. These materials are selected for their durability and suitability for the climate, reinforcing the building's integration with its environment. The natural textures and colors contribute to a cohesive aesthetic that complements the landscape.

Spatial Arrangement

The layout thoughtfully balances individual and communal spaces. Huts provide areas for personal reflection and meditation, while communal spaces are designed to encourage interaction. This arrangement supports a shared experience without sacrificing the need for solitude. Through careful positioning, the spaces invite users to connect with both nature and each other.

As sunlight pours through carefully placed openings, it creates patterns on the floors and walls, enhancing the relationship between light and space. The interplay of shadow and illumination brings life to the interior, reminding occupants of the rhythm of nature outside.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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

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 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
Early bird registration deadline 15 October 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 October 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
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
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

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