Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Cross-Laminated Timber Cabins Featuring Charred Wooden Shingles for Serene Retreat Experience

Authors:
Andrew Porten, Evan Warder
Cross-Laminated Timber Cabins Featuring Charred Wooden Shingles for Serene Retreat Experience
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed with cross-laminated timber and clad in charred wooden shingles, these cabins provide a harmonious retreat that emphasizes a seamless integration with the natural landscape while facilitating communal and individual experiences.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with locally sourced cross-laminated timber for enhanced sustainability.
02
Exterior clad in charred wooden shingles to improve durability and fire resistance.
03
Innovative bent A-frame design maximizes structural integrity while enhancing aesthetic appeal.
04
Strategic use of large glass openings creates seamless connections to the surrounding landscape.
05
Design incorporates adaptable spaces that promote both communal gathering and private reflection.

### Project Overview

"Dancing with Light" is situated in a mountainous or hilly region, designed as an immersive retreat aimed at fostering tranquility and a deeper connection with nature. The layout emphasizes the interaction between natural light and user experiences while ensuring a continuous visual relationship with the surrounding landscape, thereby providing a serene environment that encourages reflection and engagement.

### Spatial Dynamics

The design comprises a series of individual cabins, each offering unique experiences that contribute to an overarching narrative centered on movement and light. The pathways, designed to guide users on a journey, create a meandering experience that reveals new perspectives with each turn, enhancing exploration. The structures, referred to as “shifters,” vary in volume and orientation, strategically positioned to frame the scenic vistas and facilitate both sheltered and open interactions based on the viewer’s location. This spatial configuration promotes fluid movement while maintaining a balance between communal gathering areas and private spaces, accommodating both social interaction and personal reflection.

### Material Selection

Materials are carefully chosen to align with the retreat's emphasis on transparency and interaction with the environment. Sustainable timber is predominantly used for structural frames and external cladding, providing a warm facade that harmonizes with the landscape. Light-grey concrete forms the base structures, delivering durability while reflecting ambient light within the interiors. Large glass openings serve to maximize natural light and capitalize on surrounding views, while minimalist steel components offer structural support without overwhelming the design's ethereal quality. Together, these materials not only enhance the aesthetic but also contribute to a cohesive interaction with light throughout the day, allowing for a dynamic relationship between the built environment and its natural context.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge #8

Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge #8

Design iconic urban sculptures for the prestigious Mujassam Watan competition and compete for 50,000 €

50,000 € PRIZE project COMPETITION
Prize 50,000 + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 28 May 2026

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
Rome 
Rain Rooms

Design rain rooms for Rome

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 28 May 2026
Mujassam Watan 
Urban Sculpture Challenge #8

Design iconic urban sculptures for the prestigious Mujassam Watan competition and compete for 50,000 €

50,000 € PRIZE project COMPETITION
Prize 50,000 + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 28 May 2026
new
Portugal Long Table 
Restaurant

Design a slow-living restaurant in Portugal

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 8 July 2026
Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 16 September 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

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
Advance registration deadline 27 May 2026
Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #8 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 18 June 2026
new
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 18 June 2026
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 #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 2 July 2026
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
Advance registration deadline 9 July 2026
Underbridge #2

Design housing in underutilized bridge spaces

Affordable Housing Edition #20 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 July 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