Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Helical Structure Embracing Hedera Ivy for Tranquil Meditation Space

Authors:
Ilgım Eroğlu, Semiha Kan
Helical Structure Embracing Hedera Ivy for Tranquil Meditation Space
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
The innovative helix structure, wrapped in Hedera ivy for natural insulation, creates a serene environment for meditation, harmoniously integrating with its Riga setting.
5 key facts about this project
01
Helix walls enhance panoramic views while providing structural support.
02
Natural insulation is achieved through the incorporation of Hedera ivy.
03
The design includes a dry toilet for improved user privacy and health.
04
Rainwater is collected and filtered for sustainable water management.
05
A traditional kuzine serves multiple functions, including cooking and heating.

Helix Baltica is located in Riga and focuses on establishing a deep connection between its users and the natural landscape surrounding it. The design features a helix structure that balances functionality and serves as a space for meditation. The cabin is intended to integrate with nature rather than compete with it, allowing for a tranquil escape.

Design Concept
The distinctive helix-shaped walls play a vital role in the architecture. They offer structural support while providing expansive views that enhance the meditation experience. This unique form fosters openness, encouraging occupants to engage fully with the interior space and the environment outside.

Material Integration
One key element of the design is Hedera Helix Baltica, an evergreen ivy sourced from nearby forests. This ivy not only contributes to the visual charm of the cabin but also functions as an effective insulator, helping to regulate temperature. By including this vegetation, the design establishes a close relationship with the natural world, creating a feeling of connection between the inside and outside spaces.

Local Resources
The cabin incorporates Riga pine as a primary building material. Using locally sourced wood reflects an emphasis on regional resources and sustainability. The exterior surfaces are intentionally left unfinished, enhancing durability and fitting in with the natural surroundings. This choice also highlights the project’s commitment to an eco-friendly approach.

Functional Spaces
The interior layout is designed with user experience in mind, providing clear areas for meditation and sanitation. A dry toilet is positioned away from the meditation area and is separated by a sliding door for privacy. Natural light fills the space through large glass walls and a glass roof, allowing users to see outside while maintaining a sense of seclusion.

The design also addresses water management with a roof that collects rainwater. This system filters and stores the water, promoting sustainable practices and encouraging occupants to be mindful of their consumption.

Completing the design is the inclusion of a “kuzine,” a traditional heating and cooking appliance. It offers warmth and cooking capabilities while adding an element of aroma to the environment. This feature enriches the overall sensory experience and contributes to the cabin's functional character.

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
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

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
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
Final registration deadline 4 February 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