Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Curvilinear Shelters Crafted from Birch Plywood with Live Edge Siding for Coastal Trekking

Author:
Michael Szczerepa
Curvilinear Shelters Crafted from Birch Plywood with Live Edge Siding for Coastal Trekking
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Crafted from birch plywood with live edge siding, these curvilinear cabins provide sustainable accommodations that harmonize with the Latvian coastline and enhance the trekking experience.
5 key facts about this project
01
Cabins utilize locally sourced birch plywood to enhance sustainability.
02
Live edge siding creates a natural aesthetic while minimizing waste.
03
Curvilinear design mirrors surrounding coastal landscapes for visual harmony.
04
Wood-burning fireplaces reduce reliance on external energy sources.
05
Compact footprint allows for efficient land use and minimal environmental impact.

## Project Overview

Located along the coastlines of Latvia, the "Little Red Things" project introduces a series of lightweight, eco-friendly trekking cabins designed to blend with the natural environment. The intent is to provide functional living spaces that promote an immersive experience with the local ecosystem. Drawing inspiration from natural elements, these cabins reflect a commitment to sustainability and environmental consciousness.

## Design Concept and Aesthetics

### Architectural Form and Space
The design is characterized by a striking red exterior and an angular roof that emulates the surrounding tree silhouettes, optimizing the shedding of rain and snow. The interior's curvilinear layout contrasts the exterior, using continuous lines and gentle curves to create an inviting atmosphere. This space planning enhances warmth and approachability for occupants. Symbolically, the cabins are reminiscent of amber washed ashore, fostering a relationship between the structures and their coastal context.

### Interior Features and Layout
Accommodating up to four guests within approximately 12 square meters, the cabins feature vertical space optimization through two single bunk beds and an additional loft area. Common areas include a dining space and a kitchen section with a wood-burning fireplace, which serves a dual purpose of warmth and cooking. Large windows facilitate natural light and outdoor views, enhancing user engagement with the surroundings. A folding door provides access to an outdoor deck, promoting interaction with the natural landscape.

## Materiality and Sustainability

### Material Selection
The cabins utilize birch plywood for their vertical structure and interior features, providing both aesthetic appeal and structural integrity. The inclusion of 120mm of closed-cell rigid insulation ensures thermal efficiency, crucial for comfort in the coastal climate. Live edge siding connects the cabins to their environment while reflecting the local texture. The wood-burning fireplace allows for a sustainable heating source, utilizing locally sourced firewood.

### Energy Efficiency Commitment
The project emphasizes minimizing environmental impact through careful material choices and design principles that enhance energy efficiency. This approach contributes to a reduced carbon footprint, aligning with contemporary goals of sustainable architectural practice. The overall design reflects a strategic integration of functionality and ecological responsibility, exemplifying sustainable living in a coastal setting.

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