Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Panoramic Greenhouse with Clear Glass and Polycarbonate Structure

Author:
Chie Ping Boo
Panoramic Greenhouse with Clear Glass and Polycarbonate Structure
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
A clear glass and polycarbonate greenhouse elevated for panoramic views of the Mývatn landscape enhances the dining experience, integrating nature into a restaurant setting designed for operational efficiency.
5 key facts about this project
01
A bridge connects the restaurant directly to the Mývatn bath, enhancing visitor access.
02
The design prioritizes operational flow with defined routes for staff and loading areas.
03
The restaurant is elevated to provide unobstructed panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
04
Natural light enters the space through a clear glass facade and polycarbonate elements.
05
The greenhouse design integrates vegetation throughout the dining area for a unique experience.

The House of Wonders is located in Iceland, a region defined by its fascinating mix of natural features shaped by ice and fire. This restaurant, combined with a greenhouse, aims to provide a unique dining experience while ensuring smooth operations. The design focuses on connecting the restaurant with the nearby Mývatn bath, encouraging visitors to enjoy both the bathing and dining experiences within the striking landscape.

Design Integration

A bridge connects the greenhouse restaurant directly to the Mývatn bath. This structure serves as both a physical link and a potential divider for future expansions of the greenhouse. It allows easy access for guests, enhancing their overall experience as they move between the bathing area and dining space. The thoughtful placement of this bridge highlights the importance of creating an inviting atmosphere for all visitors.

Operational Flow

The design emphasizes efficient operations, with clearly defined routes for staff parking and loading zones positioned to facilitate logistics. The layout includes kitchen and storage areas, making it easier for staff to manage the workflow during busy hours. This careful planning ensures that the space remains organized and functional, providing a smooth experience for both staff and diners.

Sensory Experience

Upon arrival, guests enter through a glass box filled with greenery, which invites them into the dining area. As they proceed down a linear pathway within the greenhouse, they are surrounded by plants and natural light. This design focuses on creating a comfortable and engaging atmosphere that encourages visitors to connect with the environment and enjoy their meals.

Elevated Dining

The restaurant's location on the top floor offers diners panoramic views of the beautiful Mývatn landscape. This elevation enhances the experience, allowing guests to appreciate the natural surroundings while they eat. The transparent facade of the building promotes a continuous interaction between the inside and outside, changing with the light and weather conditions, which adds a unique element to the dining experience.

Materials used in the construction include clear glass and polycarbonate. These materials contribute to energy efficiency and allow for ample natural light within the restaurant. By integrating functional materials with the architectural vision, the design of the House of Wonders fosters a connection to the surrounding Icelandic landscape while creating an inviting space for visitors.

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