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Curved Concrete Spine with Expansive Glass Facades in a Natural Landscape Setting

Authors:
Rune Nistad, Daniel Loe, Vlad Lyakhov
Curved Concrete Spine with Expansive Glass Facades in a Natural Landscape Setting
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A curved concrete spine supports expansive glass façades that frame the northern lights, offering guests a unique accommodation experience deeply connected to the surrounding Icelandic landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Curved design follows the natural terrain contours.
02
Concrete wall serves as the structural spine.
03
Bedrooms feature roof-extended windows for sky views.
04
Outdoor terrace includes a heated pool for winter use.
05
Prefabricated bathrooms optimize space and construction efficiency.

The Curve is situated in a picturesque landscape, designed to offer comfortable lodging while enhancing the connection to its natural surroundings. The concept uses the site's topography, featuring a smooth arc that lines up with the land’s shape. This relationship between design and environment plays a key role, focusing on practical use while providing a visually engaging experience for users.

Architectural Layout

The arrangement of spaces revolves around a central corridor that links various areas, including bedrooms, a common living room, a kitchen, and an outdoor terrace. This design not only supports easy movement throughout the building but also encourages interaction among guests, creating a sense of community. The careful division of public and private areas allows for both social engagement and personal privacy.

Structural Integrity

A concrete wall serves as the main support element along the corridor, providing necessary strength to the overall structure. This choice contributes to the visual character while ensuring stability. The outer envelope features glass façades and stud wall construction, allowing light to fill the interior spaces while adhering to energy efficiency requirements.

Exterior Features

The external design highlights a terrace equipped with a heated pool and an outdoor fireplace, promoting engagement with the outdoors. These features enhance enjoyment during winter months, offering warm spaces for gathering and watching the stars. Large windows that extend across the bedroom roofs frame views of the sky, providing an opportunity to enjoy the northern lights.

Interior Design Solutions

The bathrooms are designed as prefabricated pods, optimizing space and simplifying construction. This layout eases maintenance while ensuring that essential utilities can be included above them. The functional use of space reflects a commitment to practicality, creating an environment that meets everyday needs while maintaining a cohesive design.

The connection between indoor and outdoor elements is emphasized through expansive glass windows, inviting the landscape inside and allowing guests to appreciate the beauty of the natural setting.

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The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

`
Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
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Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025

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