Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Geothermal Cylinder With Modular Wooden Terraces Overlooking Natural Landscapes

Authors:
Lou Vincent de lestrade, Léa Samson, Solène Pasztor
Geothermal Cylinder With Modular Wooden Terraces Overlooking Natural Landscapes

Project in-detail

The central cylinder rises amidst modular wooden terraces, harnessing geothermal energy to provide a self-sufficient lighthouse that invites exploration and interaction with its natural surroundings.
5 key facts about this project
01
The lighthouse features an innovative central cylinder that enhances vertical movement.
02
Modular wooden terraces allow for direct interaction with the surrounding landscape.
03
Geothermal energy systems ensure the building's self-sufficiency.
04
Inclined windows provide unique sightlines to both the sky and nearby caves.
05
Cubic volumes within the structure accommodate diverse functional spaces.

The Inland Lighthouse is a modern structure that revisits the role of lighthouses, situated prominently within a natural landscape. It functions as a guide for visitors and seafarers alike while also providing spaces for exploration and interaction with the environment. The overall design centers on a combination of geometric shapes that promote stability and establish a connection between the building and its surroundings.

Design Elements

The design features three main shapes: a triangle, cubes, and a central cylinder. The triangular form stands as the primary structure, representing stability and strength. Surrounding it are cubic volumes, which symbolize the Earth and accommodate various functional spaces within the building. This organization allows for a well-thought-out layout that serves the needs of visitors.

Vertical Connectivity

The central cylinder plays a crucial role in connecting different levels of the lighthouse. This vertical element invites visitors to ascend and take in the views from above. Moving through the space becomes an experience, allowing people to feel a connection to both the sky and the land below. It encourages exploration and interaction with the structure itself, enhancing the overall experience.

Sustainability Practices

Sustainability is a key aspect of the design. Geothermal energy systems are integrated into the building, using natural resources for lighting and water management. The configuration of the lighthouse allows snow collected on the terraces to be turned into water, making it self-sufficient. This careful approach to resource management reflects a commitment to environmental responsibility.

Visitor Experience

The design includes outdoor terraces that enhance the visitor experience, encouraging people to engage with the surrounding landscape. Positioned to create sightlines both down into the caves and up to the sky, the windows offer dynamic views. The pathways, made of wooden and steel slabs, guide visitors safely through the site. This attention to detail promotes exploration while ensuring a sense of security.

Through these carefully considered elements, the Inland Lighthouse redefines the traditional concept of a lighthouse. It creates a space that combines function with a friendly atmosphere, inviting people to reflect and discover as they engage with the natural world. The relationship between form, movement, and sustainability creates a unique environment that respects and engages with its context.

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

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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