Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Contemplation Deck and Stone Walls Shaping Community Interaction

Author:
Léon Hertz
Contemplation Deck and Stone Walls Shaping Community Interaction
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
With a design centered around a golden spiral and anchored by a stone wall, the center integrates nature through green roofs and native plants while serving as a versatile hub for community activities.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design incorporates a suspended contemplation deck for elevated views.
02
A stone wall defines the entrance, guiding visitors through the landscape.
03
Five dry toilets are integrated, with one designed for accessibility.
04
Green roofs support local biodiversity while requiring low maintenance.
05
The building layout emphasizes fluid circulation connecting communal spaces.

The Spirala community center is designed to function as the focal point of a community while integrating with the surrounding landscape. Located on a sloping terrain at a high elevation, the structure derives its form from the concept of the golden spiral. This approach not only allows the building to blend into its environment but also encourages interaction among users through strategically arranged pathways and communal spaces.

Design Concept

The golden spiral serves as the guiding principle for the entire design. It influences the layout, making it fluid and inviting. A prominent stone wall signals the beginning of the spiral, leading visitors along a carefully planned route. This path includes both a ramp and a staircase, facilitating easy access to the nearby water reservoir, which adds a natural element to the site.

Spatial Organization

Inside, the layout promotes versatility and engagement. A central multipurpose area is at the heart of the building, designed to host various community activities, including lectures, workshops, and social events. The space is flanked by two lower volumes, one housing five dry toilets—one of which is accessible—and the other containing a kitchen. This kitchen is thoughtfully placed within the curve of the spiral, ensuring it supports the needs of the community while maintaining the overall architectural vision.

Circulation and Accessibility

The circulation system within the center is defined by a floor made of modular slabs, which follow the roof's grid. This alignment enhances the visitor experience and encourages effortless movement throughout the facility. The design naturally guides guests toward the spiral's center, prioritizing accessibility while also shielding critical service areas like the kitchen. A pergola extending to the bathrooms serves as a transitional space, simplifying access for users.

Sustainability Measures

The community center addresses sustainability through its exterior design. Granite slabs create a smooth transition between constructed and natural spaces. Green roofs feature low-maintenance plant species that contribute to local biodiversity. At the same time, native plants along the ramp help secure the slope and offer seasonal visual interest. Energy efficiency is enhanced through the use of translucent tiles and photovoltaic panels, aligning the building with ecological standards.

The pathway concludes at a contemplation deck, elevated above the ground. This space offers visitors a scenic view of the landscape, encouraging them to connect with nature and reflect on their surroundings.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5

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
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