Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Rammed Earth Design with Scenic Views and Sunken Courtyard Experience

Authors:
Su Yen Liew, Eduardo Junn Lee Pereira, Jackson Soon Theng Ooi, Tiffany Man Wah Wong
Rammed Earth Design with Scenic Views and Sunken Courtyard Experience
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
The thoughtful use of rammed earth and natural materials creates a harmonious connection to the vineyard landscape, while the sunken courtyard and panoramic views enhance the guest experience at this wine hotel.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design incorporates a sunken courtyard that doubles as an amphitheater for events.
02
The hotel features an Observation Tower providing 360-degree views of the vineyard.
03
Accommodations include a Master Suite with a dedicated terrace for small gatherings.
04
Rammed earth is used throughout the structure to promote sustainability and local craftsmanship.
05
The layout maximizes natural ventilation, enhancing comfort for guests year-round.

Vistas D'Oiro at Quinta do Monte D'Oiro is located in Portugal's wine country, surrounded by vast vineyards. The design serves as a wine hotel focused on enhancing the experience of visitors by connecting architecture with the natural landscape. The project aims to create spaces that engage the senses and reflect the unique attributes of the region.

Site Organization

The layout of the hotel follows the natural contours of the land, providing guests with unobstructed views of the surrounding vineyards. The staggered arrangement promotes good airflow, ensuring comfort throughout the building. Various access points allow for easy movement within the site, including a concealed service entrance that keeps operations away from guest areas.

Reception and Social Areas

Guests enter through a sunken courtyard designed for gatherings. This space effectively encourages social interactions while maintaining privacy for areas like the spa. Expansive windows flood common areas with natural light, enhancing the overall atmosphere and inviting visitors to enjoy the views outside.

Accommodations and Views

The hotel includes 40 rooms spread across four levels, offering a variety of accommodation types. The Master Suite on the top floor features panoramic vineyard views and a terrace suitable for small events. Each room is positioned to maximize visibility of the landscape, encouraging a strong connection between visitors and the natural surroundings.

Materials and Aesthetic Integration

The project uses stone, rammed earth, and white plaster, which reflect local building traditions. These materials provide durability and create a visual bond with the landscape. Their thoughtful application helps the building blend into its setting, reinforcing a sense of place.

Large windows frame the views, inviting the landscape into the interiors. This design choice enhances the connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces, fostering a calming environment for guests throughout their stay.

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 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 Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
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

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
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 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
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