Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Rainwater-Collecting Retreat with a Green Roof and Natural Stone Features

Author:
Victoria Ortiz Juri
Rainwater-Collecting Retreat with a Green Roof and Natural Stone Features
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
With a semi-buried design that integrates rainwater collection and a green roof, this versatile studio fosters a deep connection to the surrounding landscape while serving as a space for yoga and communal gatherings.
5 key facts about this project
01
The building is semi-buried to minimize visual impact on the landscape.
02
A green roof incorporates local flora, enhancing biodiversity.
03
The design features a dedicated water patio to support meditation practices.
04
Large windows provide expansive views while integrating natural ventilation.
05
Flexible elements in the shala allow for adaptability during various activities.

The project is situated on a steep slope surrounded by dense trees and natural undergrowth, creating an environment that promotes interaction with nature. It functions as a multifunctional studio aimed at fostering a sense of balance and connection with the landscape. The design centers around minimizing visual impact while enhancing the experience of users within a sustainable framework. Through its thoughtful form, the building seeks to harmonize with the existing ecosystem.

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

The overall structure takes a semi-buried form, which allows it to blend into the terrain and reduce disruption to the natural setting. This integration not only improves thermal performance but also minimizes the building's presence in the landscape. A green roof, rich with native plants, enhances ecological functions such as insulation and supports local biodiversity, reflecting the commitment to environmental care.



INTERIOR SPACES

The interior layout emphasizes flexibility, accommodating different activities while ensuring smooth transitions between indoor and outdoor areas. The main yoga space, known as the shala, is oriented to capture views of the western horizon. With large windows and generous patios, the design fosters a sense of openness and encourages occupants to engage with the surrounding environment, enriching their overall experience.



ELEMENTAL DESIGN

Each section of the building is linked to one of the four classical elements: earth, water, air, and fire. The shala, connected to the earth, allows users to engage with the ground during yoga practices. A calm water patio introduces soothing sound through a fountain, enhancing meditation. An air zone serves as a transitional space with large openings that promote natural airflow, while the rooftop garden, featuring a fireplace, represents the fire element and creates a place for social gatherings amidst nature.



MATERIALS AND ENERGY USE

Locally sourced materials, specifically wood and stone, strengthen the connection to the landscape and promote sustainable practices by reducing transportation emissions. Solar panels integrated into the design work to enhance energy efficiency, while systems for collecting rainwater support responsible water management. Such elements highlight the commitment to maintain ecological balance within the architectural framework.



A notable design detail is the flexible folding elements in the shala that allow easy adaptation of the space for various activities. This feature keeps the dialogue with the outdoors active, ensuring that the building responds not only to the needs of its users but also to the beauty of the surrounding landscape.

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