Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Metal Frames and Red Accents Defining Community Connections in Iceland

Author:
Maria Volter
Metal Frames and Red Accents Defining Community Connections in Iceland

Project in-detail

Constructed with intersecting metal frames and highlighted by red accents, the community center in Iceland offers a dynamic space for social interaction and sustainability through hands-on activities like recycling.
5 key facts about this project
01
The upper building maximizes views with a circular layout that encourages movement.
02
The lower building features a bold red façade, serving as a visual landmark.
03
Pathways connect the buildings, designed for both pedestrians and electric vehicles.
04
An inclined entrance highlights the verticality of the upper building's design.
05
Skylights are strategically placed to enhance natural light throughout the interior.

The community center features two distinct buildings: an upper and a lower structure. These buildings are designed to serve different functions while maintaining a strong connection with the surrounding landscape. Located on a hillside, the upper building is oriented to maximize views and acts as a gathering place for relaxation, social interaction, food cultivation, and community events. The design reflects a careful balance of purpose and aesthetic considerations, creating a welcoming environment for all users.

Upper Building Design

The upper building is organized in a circular layout that encourages movement among different spaces. This design allows for panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, enhancing the community experience. Skylights are strategically placed within the roof to provide natural light throughout the interior, contributing to a bright and open atmosphere. The architecture prioritizes openness and interaction, facilitating various communal activities within a clearly defined space.

Lower Building Functionality

In contrast, the lower building focuses more on practicality and sustainability. It offers facilities for hands-on activities such as recycling and resource reuse. The structure is designed in a distinctive red sequence, making it a noticeable feature in the landscape while serving operational needs. Its location near the main road allows for easy vehicle access, complemented by a nearby parking area and a dedicated waste collection zone along the north façade for effective management of materials.

Connectivity and Accessibility

Connecting the upper and lower buildings are pathways designed for easy circulation. These include a step walkway and unpaved lanes that accommodate electric vehicles. Both elements underscore the importance of accessibility and promote movement between the two structures. The main entrance to the upper building is inviting, featuring an inclined path that enhances the visitor experience while highlighting the design's verticality.

Structural Concept and Materials

The design's structural concept relies on two intersecting rings of metal frames. This innovative approach creates a transparent volume that appears to float above the landscape, supported at minimal contact points. The design blends functionality with aesthetics, emphasizing contemporary architecture. The careful balance of solid and transparent elements allows the community center to merge with its surroundings while providing shelter and gathering spaces for its users.

Natural light pours in through the expansive glass, creating an inviting atmosphere. With each detail, the building fosters connections between people and their environment, making it a place where community members can gather, share, and engage with one another.

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

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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