Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Geometric Serenity with Polished Concrete and Radiata Pine Elements

Author:
Kyle Coxe
Geometric Serenity with Polished Concrete and Radiata Pine Elements
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Emerging from the landscape, the geode structure uniquely integrates polished concrete and radiata pine to create a meditative sanctuary that fosters mindfulness and personal reflection.
5 key facts about this project
01
Geode structure serves as a central focal point for meditation.
02
Polished concrete enhances durability while contributing to a calming aesthetic.
03
Radiata pine flooring adds warmth and tactile comfort to the interior.
04
Carefully designed thresholds guide users through distinct meditation stages.
05
Integrated photovoltaic panels support passive heating and cooling.

The Meditation Ritual is located in a peaceful setting that invites personal reflection and introspection. The design aims to guide users through different stages of meditation, transitioning them from the physical world into a state of calm and openness. By focusing on the experience of the individual, the design creates a space that promotes both inner peace and a connection with nature.

Conceptual Framework
The project's concept is based on the idea of moving from the corporeal to the immaterial. Thoughtfully designed thresholds allow users to experience a journey into meditation. Each area is crafted to evoke feelings of tranquility and serenity, encouraging a deeper relationship with the surroundings and fostering a space for mindfulness.

Material and Structure
Choice of materials plays a crucial role in supporting the overall design. Polished concrete is chosen for its durability and clean aesthetic, contributing to a soothing environment. Schluter-deco elements establish visual and functional connections within the spaces. Radiata pine flooring brings warmth and comfort, enhancing the inviting nature of the interior.

Geometric Elements
A notable feature of the design is the geode, which emerges from the landscape and serves as an important focal point. This element represents stability and connects users to nature. Its unique shape contrasts with the linear aspects of the surrounding spaces, encouraging exploration and interaction. The relationship between the geode and interior elements creates a harmonious dialogue that strengthens the connection to the natural environment.

Sustainable Systems
The design incorporates systems that promote energy efficiency and user comfort. Photovoltaic panels are integrated skillfully into the architecture to support passive heating and cooling. Careful positioning of dampers and ventilation systems optimizes airflow, ensuring a pleasant atmosphere while remaining respectful to environmental factors.

Interior spaces exude openness and clarity, featuring natural light that pours in through carefully placed openings. This soft illumination complements the meditative purpose of the environment, creating a serene backdrop for personal reflection and mindfulness.

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 Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
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
Advance registration deadline 18 February 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
Concrete 
Pavilion

Design a concrete pavilion

Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025
new
Rome 
Rain Rooms

Design a rain room for Rome

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 14 January 2026
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
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 28 January 2026
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
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

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 Home of 
Shadows

Design a home with no artificial lighting

The light studies. Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 14 January 2026
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
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
Advance registration deadline 22 January 2026
new
MICROHOME 2026

Design a new concept of small-scale home and share a prize fund of 100,000€

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 11 February 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