Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Corten Steel Structures Harmonizing with Reflective Water Features in a Contemplative Cemetery Design

Authors:
Diego Fortuna, Sandro Di Mari Gandini
Corten Steel Structures Harmonizing with Reflective Water Features in a Contemplative Cemetery Design
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Corten steel structures create a contemplative environment enhanced by reflective water features, facilitating serene reflection and remembrance in a modern cemetery design.
5 key facts about this project
01
Corten steel structures evolve visually over time, enhancing the project's connection to nature.
02
Reflective water features are integrated to promote contemplation and invoke a sense of serenity.
03
The modular design allows for adaptability to future needs while accommodating diverse urn sizes.
04
Carefully designed pathways ensure accessibility while creating a private atmosphere for visitors.
05
Niches are distributed within five distinct cubes, providing a unique spatial organization for remembrance.

The Ponder Cubes architectural project is a contemplative space designed to honor life and memory. It employs a modular arrangement of five cube-like structures, each containing 102 niches, for a total of 510 niches dedicated to urns. The layout emphasizes a tranquil environment, featuring a central plaza that connects the individual cubes while facilitating light and airflow. This spatial organization allows for both communal reflection and personal contemplation, making it a resourceful design suited for its intended function.

The project represents an intersection of architecture and memorialization. By transforming the concept of a cemetery into a serene gathering place for reflection, it shifts traditional perceptions of such spaces. The design prioritizes accessibility and intimacy, inviting visitors to engage with their memories and experiences. As a result, the architectural choice fosters a sense of community among those who come to remember and reflect.

The materiality of the Ponder Cubes plays a crucial role in its design intent. The use of concrete establishes permanence, while corten steel adds warmth through its textural evolution over time. Black stone accents provide elegance and strength, complementing the overall form and function of the structures. The incorporation of glass surfaces enhances visibility and connection with the surrounding environment, promoting a seamless interaction between the built and natural realms.

A distinctive aspect of the Ponder Cubes is the emphasis on integrating water features within the design. These elements function as reflective surfaces, further reinforcing the contemplative atmosphere. The project includes carefully delineated circulation paths that maximize accessibility while maintaining privacy, striking a balance that is often overlooked in similar projects. The modular cube design not only allows for future adaptability but also accommodates a range of urn sizes, making it a versatile solution for various memorial traditions.

In examining the Ponder Cubes, the architectural plans reveal a thoughtful approach to spatial organization and material selection. Architectural sections provide insights into the structure’s interaction with light and nature, enhancing its function as a place of remembrance. The architectural designs reflect a commitment to fostering an environment conducive to emotional processing and community connection. Review the project presentation for deeper insights into these architectural ideas and explore the various elements that make the Ponder Cubes a meaningful design endeavor.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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 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

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

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

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
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

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