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 Retreat Crafted from Timber Cladding and Expansive Glass Panoramas

Author:
Adam Ethan Piacentini
Geothermal Retreat Crafted from Timber Cladding and Expansive Glass Panoramas

Project in-detail

Built with a distinctive F-shaped design and enhanced by timber cladding and large glass windows, the facility offers a seamless connection to the geothermal landscape while serving as a brewery and wellness spa for visitors seeking relaxation and local culture.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with an F-shaped layout to optimize natural light and lake views.
02
Incorporates sustainable cross-laminated timber panels for structural integrity and warmth.
03
Features charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and a connection to local traditions.
04
Includes outdoor soaking tubs integrated into the landscape for a nature-focused wellness experience.
05
Designed to facilitate a seamless flow between brewery, spa, and café spaces for enhanced visitor engagement.

## Overview

The Brewery Spa, located at Sel Hotel near Lake Myvatn, Iceland, encompasses a multifaceted facility that integrates a brewery, spa, café, and souvenir shop. The design aims to enhance visitors' interactions with both the natural environment and local culture. Drawing on the region's dramatic landscapes and geothermal features, the project emphasizes holistic wellness through its architectural concept and spatial organization.

### Architectural Form and User Experience

The structure adopts an F-shaped configuration, symbolizing the aperture of a camera and inviting light into the space. This design decision facilitates visual access to the surrounding landscape, with large windows providing expansive views of the lake and natural craters. The arrangement fosters a sensory experience, encouraging occupants to engage with both the interior spaces and the external environment. Key areas, such as the café and souvenir shop located at the northern end, are designed to maximize outdoor engagement through panoramic windows and outdoor seating, while the southern sector houses the spa and brewery, promoting distinct yet cohesive experiences.

### Material Selection and Sustainability

Material choices are carefully curated to support both aesthetics and functionality. The use of timber cladding adds warmth and a rustic quality that echoes the local environment. Concrete serves as the structural foundation, offering durability and a natural finish that complements the overall design. Expansive glass elements enhance transparency and facilitate natural light, improving the emotional and visual ambiance within the facility. Additionally, stone is incorporated to diversify textures and ground the structure within its geological context, reinforcing a sustainable approach through local material usage. This strategic material selection not only elevates the design but also contributes to an environmentally responsive architecture that aligns with its setting.

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