Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Floating Wellness Retreat with Steel Beams and Green Walls

Author:
Brian Andrés Ordoñez Espinoza
Floating Wellness Retreat with Steel Beams and Green Walls
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Set against the dramatic backdrop of Ecuador’s highlands, the hospice features an embedded structure with expansive views framed by large windows, utilizing steel beams and a green wall to create a peaceful sanctuary for reflection and care.
5 key facts about this project
01
Embedded structure enhances integration with the natural terrain.
02
Large windows frame views of the cloud layer in the valley.
03
Steel beams provide structural support while enhancing visual impact.
04
Green wall in the corridor introduces biophilic design elements.
05
Zoning includes dedicated areas for administration, community, and spirituality.

The Hospice Sky House is located at a height of 2020 meters in Ducur, Cañar, Ecuador. Set against a background of mountainous terrain, it operates as a space for care and contemplation. The design aims to blend naturally with its surroundings, creating a calming environment for those who need support and reflection.

Spatial Organization and Zoning

Inside the Hospice Sky House, different areas serve specific functions, making the layout clear and practical. The administration zone consists of a lobby and nursing facilities, as well as bathrooms with dressing rooms. Nearby is the social area, which includes a library, meeting room, and kitchen-dining space. The thoughtful arrangement allows for easy movement and ensures each section fulfills its role effectively.

Architectural Form and Experience

The building's form features soft, flowing lines that contribute to its overall appearance and the experience of being inside. One notable element is the section that extends from the natural contours of the land, offering wide windows that frame views of the surrounding landscape. This connection to the outdoors enriches the experience of users and encourages contemplation, while the cloud layer in the valley enhances the sense of being in a unique environment.

Material and Structural Integrity

Materials play a significant role in the design. The use of variable section steel beams and anchor plates provides strength to the structure and shapes its visual character. A concrete foundation ensures stability, helping the building withstand weather conditions typical of the region. The choice of materials reflects a focus on durability while allowing the structure to integrate with its natural setting.

Design Details

A key component of the Hospice Sky House is the corridor that links the various areas, designed to be illuminated from above for better visibility. Along this corridor, a green wall introduces natural elements into the interior, supporting a design approach that values nature. These details contribute to an atmosphere conducive to healing and reflection, enhancing the hospice's role as a place of comfort amid the high-altitude landscape.

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

Vancouver Tall Challenge: Building Higher Downtown

`
Competition organisers

The Vancouver Tall Challenge: Building Higher Downtown is an international architecture competition organized by Buildner in collaboration with the City of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA). The competition invites architects, designers, planners, and creative thinkers to explore innovative approaches to tall buildings in Vancouver’s downtown core, focusing on sustainability, livability, urban density, public space, and the city’s strong connection to nature. As Vancouver continues to grow, participants are challenged to rethink how vertical development can enhance urban life and contribute to a more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient city identity.

The competition offers a total prize fund of $15,000 CAD, with winning proposals selected by an international jury of architects, planners, academics, and city-building professionals. Key dates include the final registration deadline on October 29, 2026, submission deadline on November 30, 2026, and winners announcement on January 26, 2027. Full competition details, requirements, and registration information are available at architecturecompetitions.com/VancouverTallChallenge

Vancouver Tall Challenge

Design the future of Vancouver’s skyline

Building higher downtown ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 29 October 2026

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
The 
Quiet 
Tower

Design an observation tower in Latvia

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 15 October 2026
Vancouver 
Tall Challenge

Design the future of Vancouver’s skyline

Building higher downtown ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 29 October 2026
The Oak 
Moon 
Pavilion

Design a yoga pavilion in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 5 November 2026
new
Bellano Cotton 
Mill Museum

Design a museum in the former Cantoni Cotton Mill, Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 3 December 2026
Portugal Long Table 
Restaurant

Design a slow-living restaurant in Portugal

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 9 December 2026
New York High Falls 
Riverfront Market

Design a New Riverfront Market in Rochester, New York

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 10 December 2026
Valli Wine 
Tasting Room

Design a wine tasting room in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 14 January 2027

Recurring architecture competitions

Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 28 October 2026
Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #9 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
Advance registration deadline 12 November 2026
The 
Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Stockholm Furniture Fair Edition #6 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award + Exhibition at Stockholm Furniture Fair
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 3 December 2026
new
Buildner's Unbuilt Award

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a 50,000€ prize

50,000€ Prize / 2027 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 50,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 4 February 2027

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