Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Fluid Forms and Natural Light Elevate a Sustainable Visitor Center Crafted from Locally-Sourced Wood and Glass

Author:
Hallee Kinikin
Fluid Forms and Natural Light Elevate a Sustainable Visitor Center Crafted from Locally-Sourced Wood and Glass
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Crafted from locally-sourced wood and expansive glass panels, the visitor center embodies fluid forms that reflect the volcanic landscape, serving as an educational hub for Iceland's coffee culture and geological heritage.
5 key facts about this project
01
Crafted with locally-sourced cross-laminated timber panels for sustainability.
02
Incorporates charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and aesthetic contrast.
03
Features a unique bent A-frame design that mirrors the surrounding volcanic terrain.
04
Offers panoramic views through extensive glazing, integrating indoor and outdoor spaces.
05
Includes interactive exhibits to educate visitors about the local geology and coffee culture.

The Flowing Java project is an architectural design located near the Hverfjall volcano in northern Iceland. This visitor center is dedicated to promoting Iceland's coffee culture while providing educational insights into the region's unique geological characteristics. The design aims to harmonize with the surrounding landscape, creating a space that connects visitors to both the local environment and the rich tradition of coffee brewing.

The project features an organic form, intended to emulate the flow of lava, facilitating a natural progression from the external environment into the internal spaces. The architecture employs large glass panels, which provide uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape and integrate interior areas with the outside world. This approach fosters an immersive experience for visitors, allowing them to appreciate the natural beauty of the Hverfjall crater and the Lake Mývatn area.

Sustainable design is at the forefront of this project. The use of locally sourced materials is a key aspect, with wood, glass, natural stone, and metal being the primary materials utilized. The choice of wood evokes a sense of warmth and comfort, while the natural stone connects the building to its volcanic context. The large glazing elements ensure adequate natural light while minimizing energy consumption. This careful selection of materials demonstrates a commitment to ecological sensitivity and local craftsmanship.

A distinctive feature of the Flowing Java design is its educational focus. The interior includes spaces dedicated to informative exhibits that explore both the local geology and the process of coffee cultivation and brewing. By incorporating these elements, the architecture functions not only as a café but also as an interactive learning environment. This dual purpose distinguishes the project from typical visitor centers, creating a space where knowledge and culture converge.

The building's circulation strategy reflects its commitment to visitor engagement. Pathways are designed to lead guests through both indoor and outdoor environments, encouraging exploration and interaction with various features of the site. The integration of both pedestrian routes and vehicular access is carefully planned to ensure a seamless flow while minimizing disruptions to the landscape.

The Flowing Java project exemplifies contemporary architectural approaches that prioritize sustainability, local culture, and visitor experience. For further insights and a deeper understanding of the project, it is advisable to examine the architectural plans, sections, and designs that illustrate the intricate details of its conception and realization. Exploring these elements will provide valuable context regarding the architectural ideas that inform this distinctive project.

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