Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Integrating Natural Light Through Sloping Glass Façades in a Spa Featuring Thermal Elements and Local Brews

Integrating Natural Light Through Sloping Glass Façades in a Spa Featuring Thermal Elements and Local Brews
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
A sloping glass façade and integrated thermal zones create a harmonious connection between the interior and the Icelandic landscape, promoting wellness and relaxation through the experience of local brewing culture.
5 key facts about this project
01
A bent A-frame design enhances structural integrity while creating dynamic interior spaces.
02
Natural thermal zones allow for year-round outdoor spa experiences in varying climates.
03
Use of charred wooden shingles contributes to local fire-resistance practices and aesthetic harmony.
04
Cross-laminated timber panels provide efficient insulation and sustainable material sourcing.
05
Integrated brewery operations showcase local beer culture as part of the visitor experience.

### Project Overview
The Panoramic Beer Spa at Sel Hotel is situated in the Myvatn region of Iceland, designed to merge the local brewing culture with wellness experiences. The intent of the spa is to engage visitors with both the enjoyment of beer and the surrounding landscape, fostering a connection to the natural environment. The architectural approach reflects the unique geological features of the region, enhancing the interaction between the facility and its rural context.

### Architectural Massing and Spatial Organization
The spa's design adopts a fluid, organic form that echoes the topography of Iceland, ensuring a harmonious blend with the natural contours of the site. The layout includes distinct zones, comprising a beer spa area, a brewery, a café, and a souvenir shop, facilitating an intuitive flow through the facility. This arrangement mirrors the stages of beer craftsmanship, with spaces designed to guide visitors from the brewing process to moments of relaxation. A prominent glass façade enhances transparency, promoting visual connectivity to the exterior landscape and ensuring natural light fills the interior spaces.

### Materiality and Environmental Integration
The material palette primarily consists of glass, concrete, and wood. The extensive use of glass creates an open atmosphere that blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor environments. Concrete serves as the structural framework, providing durability against the harsh Icelandic climate, while wood accents introduce warmth and tactile richness throughout the interiors. Additionally, the sloping roof design, inspired by volcanic formations, not only facilitates snow shedding but also reinforces the spa's thematic connection to the Icelandic landscape. This thoughtful selection of materials contributes to an aesthetically cohesive and inviting environment.

### Visitor Engagement and Relaxation Zones
Unique features of the spa include an on-site brewery that provides insight into the local brewing process, alongside several relaxation zones that enhance visitor experiences. The outdoor foot spa allows guests to unwind while enjoying views of the Myvatn area. Furthermore, the courtyard design facilitates the ingress of natural light and atmospheric phenomena, such as the aurora, contributing to the spa's sensory richness. This strategic organization aims to promote rejuvenation, enhancing the overall wellness objective of the spa.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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 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
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
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

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 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
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