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 Nourished Spaces Harmonizing Wood and Nature

Authors:
Michele Piccolo, Domenico Falci
Rainwater Nourished Spaces Harmonizing Wood and Nature
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
The integration of rainwater collection systems and eco-sustainable materials defines a structure that harmonizes with its forested surroundings, creating a tranquil environment for yoga and meditation.
5 key facts about this project
01
Lotus flower-inspired design reflects themes of renewal and growth.
02
Integrated rainwater collection systems nourish surrounding vegetation.
03
Construction utilizes eco-sustainable materials for minimal ecological impact.
04
Pathways connect outdoor meditation spaces with natural landscapes.
05
Elevated structure enhances light and openness within the interior.

DOMUS LOTI is a unique structure situated in a wooded area, designed to enhance the connection between people and nature. Functioning as a Yoga House, it reflects themes of growth and renewal, inspired by the lotus flower. The building tells a story of life's cycles through its thoughtful design, aiming to create harmony for those who use it.

Architecture Concept

The concept behind DOMUS LOTI focuses on the bond between humans and their environment. The Yoga House symbolizes both aspiration and enlightenment, rising above its surroundings. Its elevated design mirrors the journey of the lotus flower, which grows from the depths of mud to bloom on the surface of water. This idea invites people to contemplate nature’s cycles and their own relationship with the world around them.

Spatial Organization

The layout features four distinct spaces that work together with the landscape. These areas connect through paths and green spaces, encouraging outdoor meditation and reflection. Such organization promotes interaction with nature and supports well-being for those inside. Each path leads to a different experience, creating a flow that feels natural and inviting, like wandering through a garden.

Materiality and Sustainability

Wood and other eco-sustainable materials are integral to DOMUS LOTI. These choices ground the structure in its environment while maintaining a low ecological impact. The materials used play a key role in both the look and function of the building. They help create a warm, comforting atmosphere, reinforcing the link between the architecture and nature.

Innovative Design Details

Rainwater collection systems enhance the structure's sustainability by feeding local plants. This feature fosters a cooperative relationship between the architecture and the surrounding ecosystem. Inside, natural light flows through large openings, promoting a bright, airy feel. This interaction with light and nature makes the space feel alive, allowing occupants to experience a sense of calm and connection, both with themselves and the environment around them.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
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
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026

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
Rome 
Rain Rooms

Design a rain room for Rome

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 14 January 2026
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
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 28 January 2026
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
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

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
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
Advance registration deadline 22 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