Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Elevated Living Pods with Isosandwich Panels Embracing Rocky Slopes

Authors:
Francesca Bonfà, Valentina Fracca
Elevated Living Pods with Isosandwich Panels Embracing Rocky Slopes
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Situated on rocky slopes, the elevated sleeping pods utilize Isosandwich panels to maximize insulation and energy efficiency, offering a minimalist sanctuary that harmonizes with its natural surroundings.
5 key facts about this project
01
Eighteen sleeping pods are strategically spaced ten meters apart for privacy.
02
Each pod features large south-facing glass panels to enhance valley views.
03
Pods are elevated on iron pilings, reducing ground disturbance.
04
Isosandwich panels ensure superior insulation in a mountainous climate.
05
Entries are located on northern facades, facilitating accessibility across varying elevations.

The sleeping pods project is located in the Vale de Moses mountains, an area characterized by rocky terrain that is not suitable for farming. Eighteen individual sleeping pods are designed to offer a minimalist living experience in a natural setting. Each pod includes essential features like a sleeping area and a bathroom, promoting both comfort and practicality. The overall design focuses on blending the structures with the landscape while supporting sustainable living.

Location and Spatial Organization

The pods are thoughtfully spaced ten meters apart to provide privacy while ensuring easy access. Each one is placed at different heights, allowing for stunning views of the valley below. With large south-facing glass surfaces, the pods take full advantage of natural light, inviting the landscape inside. Entries on the northern sides are accessed by stairs, accommodating the slope and enhancing the accessibility of each unit.

Structural Considerations

To maintain stability on the uneven ground, the pods are elevated on iron pilings that connect to the main structural elements. This approach minimizes disruption to the natural environment while providing a solid base for the lightweight design. The choice of iron as a support material reflects attention to site-specific challenges, balancing functionality with aesthetic considerations.

Materials and Insulation

Effective insulation is achieved through the use of Isosandwich panels, which help regulate temperature inside the pods. This is crucial in a mountainous area where temperatures can vary widely. Essential systems are also integrated within the pilings, ensuring that the design remains clean and respectful of the surrounding landscape.

Design Aesthetic

The sleeping pods feature a contemporary design that emphasizes function and harmony with nature. Their simple forms invite occupants to connect with their surroundings. The arrangement of the spaces encourages relaxation and a retreat from the busyness of everyday life. Each pod serves as a quiet place to reflect and appreciate the beauty of the natural world, providing a unique experience that fosters a connection between the inhabitants and the landscape.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
100,000€ Prize / 2026

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
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 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

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
new
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
Early bird registration deadline 26 February 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