Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Intersecting Elements of Cross-Laminated Timber and Nature in a Mountain Retreat

Author:
Filomena Visone
Intersecting Elements of Cross-Laminated Timber and Nature in a Mountain Retreat
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
The interplay of intersecting elements and cross-laminated timber creates a retreat that emphasizes both privacy and connection to the surrounding mountains, serving as a dedicated space for yoga and meditation.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design incorporates intersecting elements that create distinct zones for privacy and community.
02
Cross-laminated timber is used to reduce environmental impact and enhance structural efficiency.
03
A zen garden is integrated to provide a tranquil retreat for reflection and meditation.
04
The large glass openings ensure optimal natural light while framing views of the surrounding landscape.
05
Rainwater collection systems are implemented to support sustainable water management for the facility.

The project in Vale de Moses is thoughtfully designed to blend with its natural surroundings while serving as a space for yoga and holistic practices. Situated against a backdrop of rolling mountains, the design enhances the user's connection to nature. It achieves this through two main elements: one that is closed and focused on the mountains, and another that opens towards the valley. This balance between isolation and openness is a core aspect of the design concept.

Program Distribution

The layout features two levels that provide flexibility for various activities such as meditation, yoga, and social interaction. On the ground floor, there is a spacious indoor yoga room connected to outdoor areas. Large glass walls create a connection to the exterior, allowing for a smooth transition between inside and outside. Two significant openings enhance the experience: one faces southwest to bring in controlled light, while the other points northwest towards a zen garden, ensuring even and gentle illumination.

Second-Floor Spaces

The second level adds more function, with indoor quiet areas for meditation and an outdoor yoga terrace. These spaces allow practitioners to enjoy nature during good weather. The thoughtful design also includes secluded meditation zones that offer privacy, with lower windows providing views without compromising the atmosphere. This attention to user experience highlights the importance of tranquility and reflection.

Material and Sustainable Strategies

Cross-laminated timber is a key material for the construction. This choice allows for a lightweight structure that is quick to assemble and reduces environmental impact. Additionally, the pitched roof accommodates solar panels, which provide electricity for the building. A rainwater collection system is also in place, capturing water for indoor use and ensuring it is safe to drink through a purification process.

Outdoor Engagement

Outdoor spaces are carefully integrated to enhance the overall experience of the site. A platform serves multiple functions, accommodating gatherings and events, while a zen garden offers a peaceful escape for reflection. Pathways wind through the landscape, guiding visitors from more public areas into private retreats. The interplay of buildings and gardens creates a focused atmosphere, promoting mindfulness and connection to the serene surroundings.

The attention to detail in managing light and space fosters a rich environment for those who seek calm and inspiration. Each element works together to create a setting where users can deepen their practice and enjoy the natural beauty around them.

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