Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Patina-Covered Lookout Featuring Steel and Glass Stations in Mountainous Terrain

Authors:
Claire Gaspin, David Emmons, Mingda Zhang, Kaylee Tucker
Patina-Covered Lookout Featuring Steel and Glass Stations in Mountainous Terrain
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
The seamless integration of patina-covered copper and expansive glass facades creates an elevated lookout that invites contemplative engagement with the surrounding mountain and lake vistas.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design incorporates a bent A-frame that maximizes structural efficiency and aesthetic appeal.
02
Patina-covered copper roofing enhances weather resistance while blending with the natural surroundings.
03
Large glass panels create unobstructed views, fostering a connection between interior spaces and the landscape.
04
The structure features a sustainable approach with steel frames that allow for slender, lightweight forms.
05
Outdoor terraces are strategically placed to promote communal interaction with views of the surrounding environment.

## Overview

The Belvedere project is located in a mountainous region adjacent to several lakes, thoughtfully designed to integrate with the natural landscape. The intent of the project is to promote an appreciation of the views while ensuring both structural integrity and aesthetic coherence. The design framework prioritizes a contemporary perspective, emphasizing the roles of observation and interaction with the environment.

## Spatial Strategy

The project's spatial organization takes into account the geographical orientation of the site, allowing for expansive views of the surrounding mountains and water bodies. Detailed analyses of sun trajectories and seasonal variations inform the layout, optimizing natural light exposure while shielding inhabitants from severe weather conditions. This approach fosters a connection between the building and its environment, enhancing the user experience while accommodating the changing seasons.

## Material Considerations

The selection of materials reflects a commitment to durability and visual harmony with the landscape. Key materials include copper for the roofing, which develops a patina over time, steel for the structural framework providing strength with minimal visual bulk, and glass for the façade, maximizing light penetration and views. Concrete serves as a robust foundation, while wood is incorporated in decking and furnishings, introducing a warmth that contrasts with the more linear materials. Each choice reinforces the building's design intent while ensuring longevity in a challenging environment.

## Structural Elements

Architectural features include a distinctive twisted roof geometry designed to capture broad vistas and create a striking profile against the skyline. Slender columns elevate the structure, promoting an airy atmosphere that connects occupants to the surrounding terrain. Common areas and outdoor decks are strategically placed to encourage social interaction and exploration, while dedicated viewpoints facilitate engagement with the stunning scenery, enhancing the overall purpose of the structure as a lookout point.

## Environmental Integration

The building's footprint follows the natural contours of the site, minimizing ecological disturbance and enhancing visual alignment with the landscape. Seasonal adaptability is a core consideration, with detailed planning allowing the structure to maximize solar gain in winter and provide adequate shading in summer, ensuring year-round comfort for users. This nuanced approach underscores the project’s commitment to environmental sensitivity and long-term sustainability.

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