Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Equilateral Triangles and Solar Panels Shaping Modular Lodging in Nature

Author:
Sam Sempill
Equilateral Triangles and Solar Panels Shaping Modular Lodging in Nature
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Equilateral triangles constructed with effective insulation and solar panels create a sustainable lodge that harmonizes with the Mývatn landscape, offering guests a unique experience under the Northern Lights.
5 key facts about this project
01
Equilateral triangle modules allow for flexible spatial configurations.
02
Bedrooms feature glazed roofs for optimal stargazing and Northern Lights viewing.
03
Greywater recycling system minimizes water waste for sustainable living.
04
Rubber seals enhance structural connections and facilitate quick assembly.
05
Screw pile foundations adapt to the uneven terrain of the nature reserve.

The Lantern Lodge project is located in the Mývatn-Laxa nature reserve in Iceland, known for its striking geological features, including wetlands, geothermal areas, and volcanic formations. Designed as modular accommodation, the project features interconnected equilateral triangles forming individual bedroom units. This layout aims to enhance guest comfort while promoting privacy. The design concept focuses on integrating the structures with the surrounding environment, allowing occupants to enjoy views of Lake Mývatn and the Northern Lights.

Modular Structure

The layout consists of a series of equilateral triangles, each with a floor area of 16 square meters. Each unit can house a double bed or two single beds, providing versatility for various guest needs. This modular design enables efficient use of space and easy assembly. It can also be reconfigured as necessary, adapting to seasonal changes and occupancy levels.

Sustainability Features

Sustainability is a key aspect of the design. Solar panels are installed on the roofs of the units, capturing renewable energy and contributing to the facility's energy efficiency. Effective insulation techniques are employed to maintain comfort in the cold climate of the region. The building also includes a greywater recycling system to filter and reuse shower water, reducing waste and promoting responsible resource use.

Natural Integration

The design encourages a connection with the natural surroundings. Glazed roof areas in the bedrooms allow natural light to flood the interiors and provide opportunities for stargazing. Rubber seals used in the connections between triangle units ensure structural integrity and enable quick assembly. This approach helps the facility adjust to the rugged terrain, using screw piles for secure anchoring.

Unique Living Experience

At Lantern Lodge, guests experience a distinct living environment that balances privacy with a connection to nature. The modular design responds to the climate, allowing units to be oriented for optimal views. This careful attention to spatial arrangement creates bright and inviting living spaces, enriching the experience of staying in such an extraordinary landscape. Each unit provides a sense of seclusion while opening up to the beauty of its surroundings.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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 Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5

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
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 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
Early bird registration deadline 15 October 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 October 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
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
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

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