Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Pentagonal Space Crafted with Basalt and Natural Wood Overlooking Northern Lights

Pentagonal Space Crafted with Basalt and Natural Wood Overlooking Northern Lights
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
An exceptional pentagonal structure emerges from the rugged landscape, crafted with durable basalt and warm wood, offering panoramic views of the Northern Lights while providing a multifaceted space for brewing and wellness activities.
5 key facts about this project
01
Pentagonal shape enhances spatial flexibility and engagement with the landscape.
02
Constructed with locally sourced basalt for durability and context integration.
03
Generous use of glass allows for seamless indoor-outdoor connections.
04
Equipped with a dedicated aurora-viewing room for unique visitor experiences.
05
Features spa treatments utilizing local resources, emphasizing wellness and sustainability.

### Project Overview
Located in Iceland, the Mývatn Brew Retreat is designed to integrate innovative architectural solutions with the surrounding natural landscape. This project aims to provide a functional space that reflects the dramatic scenery of Lake Mývatn while serving as a destination for both tourists and locals. The design emphasizes the dual relationship between indoor and outdoor experiences, fostering an engagement with the local environment.

### Spatial Configuration and User Engagement
The retreat features an open floor plan that promotes flexibility and accessibility throughout the space. At its core is a pentagon-shaped room, which facilitates a variety of functions such as a café, brewery, and relaxation areas. This unique geometric form not only provides structural integrity but also encourages collaborative use. The strategic removal of walls enhances natural light flow, connecting the interior to the exterior and illustrating a commitment to reducing reliance on artificial lighting.

The inclusion of various spaces such as a brewery with transparent glass walls allows patrons to observe the brewing process, fostering a social atmosphere. Additional amenities, including wellness facilities with beer-infused therapies on the second floor and a specialized Aurora-viewing room, further enrich the visitor experience by providing unique opportunities to engage with both the landscape and Icelandic cultural traditions.

### Material Strategies
In addressing the philosophical underpinnings of the project, a strategic selection of materials enhances its identity and responsiveness to the local context. The juxtaposition of basalt and wood creates a balance between durability and warmth. Basalt, known for its resilience, reflects the rugged character of the Icelandic terrain, while wood introduces inviting tones that soften the overall aesthetic. Generous use of glass not only maximizes views but also blurs the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, reinforcing the connection with the scenic environment. Natural stone finishes are carefully integrated to further align the structure with its geographical context, completing the design’s cohesive narrative.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

`
Competition organisers

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 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
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 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
Early bird registration deadline 15 October 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 October 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025
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
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

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