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Curved Zinc Roof and Reflective Surfaces in a Community Gathering Space

Authors:
Louis Pouchard, Anindya Citra
Curved Zinc Roof and Reflective Surfaces in a Community Gathering Space
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A cantilevered floor slab and a gentle zinc roof create a dynamic pavilion that reflects its stunning landscape and serves as a community gathering space for local residents.
5 key facts about this project
01
The pavilion features a mirror box that reflects the surrounding landscape.
02
The roof design incorporates a gentle curve that echoes local volcanic formations.
03
The sunken gathering area is designed to foster community interaction.
04
Fully glazed facades provide unobstructed views while allowing natural light.
05
Cantilevered edges create a lightweight appearance, enhancing the pavilion's presence.

The Iceland Movie Pavilion is a unique structure located in a captivating landscape, designed to serve as both a movie theater and a community center. This space encourages social connections among local residents while emphasizing a strong relationship with its natural surroundings. The design focuses on visibility and presence within the landscape, creating an architectural statement that invites exploration and interaction.

Conceptual Framework
The composition of the pavilion includes two intersecting cubes. One cube is fully glazed and transparent, allowing ample light to enter, while the other cube, acting as a mirror box, reflects the environment through a curtain glass wall. This arrangement creates an engaging dialogue between the inside of the pavilion and the natural world outside. It blurs the boundaries, making the pavilion feel like an extension of the landscape.

Spatial Arrangement
Inside the pavilion, spaces are thoughtfully arranged to promote community engagement. A notable feature is the sunken gathering area that includes built-in seating for over 30 individuals around a chimney. This design encourages socializing and interaction among visitors, giving them an opportunity to come together in a comfortable environment. The layout prioritizes usability, enabling residents to share experiences and enjoy their time in the space.

Materiality
Choices of materials play an important role in the identity of the pavilion. The fully glazed facades illuminate the interior while framing views of the landscape. The mirror box adds depth and creates dynamic reflections. The roof is covered with zinc, which is shaped into a gentle curve that complements the geographical features. Dark grey lava stone tiles are used on the floor, linking the structure to its setting, while metal bronze plates line the ceiling, enhancing the aesthetic appeal.

The edges of the floor slab are cantilevered, giving the entire pavilion a light and floating appearance. This design detail contributes to the overall sense of suspension in the space, allowing it to blend harmoniously with its surroundings.

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Enter an open architecture
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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

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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

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