Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Inclined Volumes with Polycarbonate Light and Community Greenhouse

Author:
Arnon Van Embden Spanjaard
Inclined Volumes with Polycarbonate Light and Community Greenhouse
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Two inclined volumes enhance natural light and integrate sustainable practices, creating an engaging space for a restaurant and community-focused greenhouse in the Icelandic landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Two inclined volumes mirror the natural landscape of Myvatn.
02
Polycarbonate panels provide diffuse daylight for the greenhouse.
03
Modular timber construction supports CO2 storage benefits.
04
Public roof encourages visitor interaction with the environment.
05
Integrated heating elements ensure optimal conditions for plant growth.

Located in the Myvatn hills of Iceland, the design features two inclined volumes that reflect the region's natural landscape. The building serves multiple functions, including a restaurant, kitchen, toilets, storage facilities, a multi-functional hall, and a greenhouse. The overall concept emphasizes a strong relationship between the structure and the environment, with a public roof that encourages visitors to engage with the spectacular views around them.

Architectural Form

The architectural form is defined by the two connecting volumes, which create a dialogue with the nearby hills. The design allows the building to blend into its surroundings, respecting the natural features of the site. The angled roof gives the structure a unique profile while providing practical benefits; it efficiently directs rainwater and snowmelt away from the building.

Interior Spaces

Inside, the layout enhances visitor experience and interaction with the greenhouse. A warm atmosphere welcomes guests, guiding them from the entrance through a passage into the core of the building. The greenhouse acts as a focal point, where visitors can observe the growth of local produce. This arrangement encourages diverse activities and cultivates a sense of community among guests.

Sustainability Aspects

Sustainability is a key element of the design, highlighted by the use of modular timber construction that aids in CO2 storage. This method reduces environmental impact and allows for efficient prefabrication, important in Iceland's unpredictable weather. The design prioritizes local materials, reinforcing a commitment to ecological responsibility throughout the building process.

Materials and Performance

Materials chosen for the building are important for both function and appearance. Polycarbonate is used in the greenhouse to provide diffuse daylight, supporting the right conditions for plant growth. Glass is incorporated in the entrance and facade to create a strong connection between the interior spaces and the beautiful landscape outside.

The building culminates in a roof that invites nature in, creating a connection between the interior environment and the outside world. It invites exploration and curiosity, allowing the surrounding ecology to become part of the experience.

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 Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
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
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025

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 Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025
new
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 26 November 2025
Concrete 
Pavilion

Design a concrete pavilion

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

Recurring architecture competitions

new
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
Early bird registration deadline 5 November 2025
The Last 
Nuclear Bomb Memorial

Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

Edition #6 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 13 November 2025
new
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
Early bird registration deadline 20 November 2025
Hospice - 
Home for the 
Terminally ill

Design a safe and supportive space to those struggling with a terminal illness

Edition #5 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 10,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 26 November 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 26 November 2025
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 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
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