Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Perforated Steel Panels and Litracon in a Cinematic Experience Amid Icelandic Landscapes

Authors:
Valentina Fesenko, Anna Nakhshkaryan, Marina Politova, Anna Neroslova
Perforated Steel Panels and Litracon in a Cinematic Experience Amid Icelandic Landscapes
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Incorporating perforated steel panels and Litracon, the facility harmonizes with Iceland's landscape while providing a multifunctional space for cinematic experiences.
5 key facts about this project
01
Litracon walls allow natural light while providing water resistance.
02
Perforated steel panels incorporate cultural motifs, enhancing the façade.
03
Mobile seating arrangements enable flexibility for various events.
04
The observation deck offers panoramic views of local geological features.
05
The design prioritizes accessibility to accommodate all visitors.

The Millennium Film Con is located in the scenic landscapes of North Iceland. Inspired by the Millennium Falcon, the design merges the themes of cinema with the beauty of nature. Visitors not only experience films but also connect with the unique surroundings. The layout creates an engaging journey that invites people to reflect on both the art of storytelling through film and the natural world outside.

LAYOUT AND ACCESS

The layout emphasizes views of the Icelandic terrain, with the main entrance oriented towards the primary road. A long pathway provides a welcoming atmosphere, resembling a red carpet to guide visitors into the building. High walls on either side protect against the region's strong winds, making it comfortable to approach. These walls incorporate perforated steel panels that feature Icelandic magical staves, adding visual interest and inviting illumination.

INTERIOR DESIGN

Inside, the reception area includes a cloakroom and lounge zone, crafted to replicate the feel of a spaceship. Creative lighting enhances the overall experience, contributing to a sense of immersion. Visitors move through corridors that serve as exhibition spaces before arriving at the café, which offers expansive views of the Hverfjall volcano and Grjótagjá caves. This thoughtful layout encourages interaction and engagement at various points in the building.

CINEMA AND FUNCTIONALITY

The cinema hall is central to the design, featuring a layout that allows for flexibility in use. The seating is mobile, enabling different arrangements for various events. This adaptability enhances the overall visitor experience. Accessibility is also a key concern, with features that ensure comfortable movement for individuals with limited mobility. An observation deck rises alongside the entrance, providing a vantage point for visitors to appreciate the surrounding landscape.

MATERIALS AND DETAILS

Materials contribute significantly to the overall atmosphere. Polished concrete is used throughout the interior, presenting a clean and modern aesthetic. The walls of the café are made from Litracon, a type of transparent concrete. This material offers both water resistance and interactive visual effects, creating a connection with activities happening in the adjacent cinema hall. The design reflects a harmonious blend of functional spaces and the natural environment, resulting in a setting that encourages exploration and engagement.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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
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

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

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
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge

AIA (American Institute of Architects) invites you to design affordable housing in Denver

Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 2025

Recurring architecture competitions

The Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 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
Advance registration deadline 18 September 2025
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
new
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
Early bird registration deadline 2 October 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
Advance registration deadline 9 October 2025
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
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
Concrete 
Pavilion

Design a concrete pavilion

Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 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