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 Retreat with Charred Wooden Shingles Enhancing Aurora Views

Author:
Tylor Payne Payne
Cross-Laminated Timber Retreat with Charred Wooden Shingles Enhancing Aurora Views
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Crafted with cross-laminated timber and charred wooden shingles, this retreat offers panoramic views of the Northern Lights while providing an immersive guest experience in Iceland's natural landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with cross-laminated timber panels for enhanced sustainability and structural integrity.
02
Charred wooden shingles provide natural insulation and aesthetic contrast against the landscape.
03
Built-in water features reflect the auroras, creating dynamic visual experiences.
04
Guest houses feature mobile units that can be repositioned for optimal sky views.
05
Geothermal energy systems supply heating and power, aligning with environmental best practices.

### Overview
The retreat is situated near Mývatn Lake in northern Iceland, designed to provide an immersive experience for travelers seeking to observe the Aurora Borealis. The architectural intent is to foster a deep connection between the constructed environment and the surrounding natural landscape, enhancing the visitor experience through innovative design elements.

### Spatial Strategy
The layout includes multiple guest houses strategically oriented to provide unobstructed views of the sky and the dynamic landscape. Each guest house employs a modern interpretation of traditional Icelandic architecture, featuring large windows that invite natural light and highlight the display of the Northern Lights. The dining hall is designed with a terraced configuration, encouraging social interaction while maximizing visual engagement with the environment. Throughout the site, water features—such as shallow pools and interactive fountains—are thoughtfully integrated to reflect and complement the colors of the aurora, thus enriching the sensory experience.

### Materiality and Sustainability
The project utilizes a selection of sustainable materials to align with its ecological goals. Wood, likely sourced from local forests, is used to enhance the warmth and aesthetic of the buildings, while extensive glass installations ensure transparency and proximity to nature. Steel elements provide structural integrity, capable of withstanding the local climate, and stone is incorporated into pathways and structural features, reinforcing a connection with the regional geology. Additionally, the retreat harnesses geothermal energy for heating water and electricity, exemplifying a commitment to sustainable practices that minimize environmental impact and promote responsible tourism.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Pavilion Atlas 2026: Rethinking Nations Through Architectural Storytelling

`
Competition organisers

Buildner launches Pavilion Atlas 2026, a global architecture competition inviting designers to create conceptual pavilions that tell the story of a country. Participants are challenged to express cultural, social, environmental, or political identity through spatial storytelling, focusing on ideas rather than symbols or technical constraints. The competition offers a total prize fund of €20,000, with final registration open until September 16, 2026, and winners to be announced on December 8, 2026. All submissions will become part of a global design archive.

Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 16 September 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
new
The Oak 
Moon 
Pavilion

Design a yoga pavilion in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 27 August 2026
Vancouver 
Tall Challenge

Design the future of Vancouver’s skyline

Building higher downtown ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 9 September 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
Portugal Long Table 
Restaurant

Design a slow-living restaurant in Portugal

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 23 September 2026
New York High Falls 
Riverfront Market

Design a New Riverfront Market in Rochester, New York

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 7 October 2026
Valli Wine 
Tasting Room

Design a wine tasting room in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 8 October 2026
The 
Quiet 
Tower

Design an observation tower in Latvia

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 15 October 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 27 August 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
Final registration deadline 10 September 2026
new
Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #9 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
Early bird registration deadline 10 September 2026
Underbridge #2

Design housing in underutilized bridge spaces

Affordable Housing Edition #20 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 17 September 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
Final registration deadline 23 September 2026
The 
Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Stockholm Furniture Fair Edition #6 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award + Exhibition at Stockholm Furniture Fair
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 24 September 2026
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
Final registration deadline 30 September 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