Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Hay-Built Structure Embracing Nature with Zen Gardens and Cork Features

Authors:
Wiktoria Ciszak, Michalina Linkowska, Karolina Kozłowska
Hay-Built Structure Embracing Nature with Zen Gardens and Cork Features
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed with hay and highlighted by serene zen gardens, the design emphasizes accessibility and communal interaction while providing a space for wellness and reflection.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed primarily with hay, enhancing insulation properties.
02
Features interconnected zen gardens promoting mindfulness and relaxation.
03
All facilities are barrier-free for improved accessibility.
04
A pond collects rainwater for irrigation, integrating sustainability.
05
Adjacent vegetable garden supports self-sufficiency and local food production.

The design is located in a setting that reflects the traditional architecture of Portuguese towns, focusing on the blending of nature and built spaces. It aims to provide a welcoming environment that supports accessibility, sustainability, and community. The intent is to create areas where individuals can find both solitude and opportunities for social interaction. The overall concept is centered around engaging users with their surroundings while strengthening social bonds.

Zen Gardens

Zen gardens are integrated along the pathways that lead to the main complex. These gardens offer peaceful spots where visitors can sit in hammocks or on benches. The arrangement is designed to encourage relaxation and a deep connection with the natural environment. They serve as spaces for quiet reflection amidst the bustle of daily life.

Accessibility Features

A strong commitment to accessibility is a key feature of the design. Facilities are produced without barriers, including wide corridors and level entries that cater to individuals with mobility challenges. This approach ensures that everyone can comfortably navigate the space. The focus on inclusivity is evident throughout the design.

Social Interaction

The design emphasizes social spaces, particularly in the kitchen and dining area. The long dining table promotes a sense of community, inviting users to share meals and experiences together. This area serves not only as a place to eat but also as a venue for gathering and engagement. Additionally, the multi-relaxation room can be adapted for various activities, further fostering connections among visitors.

Sustainable Practices

Sustainability is an important aspect of the design. A vegetable garden placed near the kitchen allows users to connect with the source of their food, promoting self-sufficiency. Furthermore, a pond is thoughtfully included within the landscape, serving as both a visual feature and a way to collect rainwater for irrigation. This combination enhances the ecological responsibility of the overall design.

Throughout the project, careful attention is given to the use of natural elements and locally sourced materials. Stone, wood, and clay are selected to resonate with the surroundings. The intention is to create spaces that blend with nature while providing comfortable areas for reflection and connection. The design facilitates an immersive experience, allowing users to engage meaningfully with both the architecture and the landscape.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Pavilion Atlas 2026: Rethinking Nations Through Architectural Storytelling

`
Competition organisers

Buildner launches Pavilion Atlas 2026, a global architecture competition inviting designers to create conceptual pavilions that tell the story of a country. Participants are challenged to express cultural, social, environmental, or political identity through spatial storytelling, focusing on ideas rather than symbols or technical constraints. The competition offers a total prize fund of €20,000, with final registration open until September 16, 2026, and winners to be announced on December 8, 2026. All submissions will become part of a global design archive.

Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 16 September 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
new
The Oak 
Moon 
Pavilion

Design a yoga pavilion in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 27 August 2026
Vancouver 
Tall Challenge

Design the future of Vancouver’s skyline

Building higher downtown ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 9 September 2026
Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 16 September 2026
Portugal Long Table 
Restaurant

Design a slow-living restaurant in Portugal

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 23 September 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
Advance registration deadline 7 October 2026
Valli Wine 
Tasting Room

Design a wine tasting room in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 8 October 2026
The 
Quiet 
Tower

Design an observation tower in Latvia

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

Recurring architecture competitions

Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 27 August 2026
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 #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 10 September 2026
new
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
Early bird registration deadline 10 September 2026
Underbridge #2

Design housing in underutilized bridge spaces

Affordable Housing Edition #20 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 17 September 2026
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
Final registration deadline 23 September 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
Advance registration deadline 24 September 2026
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
Final registration deadline 30 September 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