Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Sunken Courtyards and Adobe Brick Create a Harmonious Hospitality Retreat

Author:
Meruert Zharekesheva
Sunken Courtyards and Adobe Brick Create a Harmonious Hospitality Retreat
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Sunken courtyards and angular volumes crafted from adobe brick create a distinctive blend of tradition and modernity in a hospitality retreat that connects visitors with the surrounding vineyards.
5 key facts about this project
01
Sunken courtyards enhance natural lighting and create private outdoor areas.
02
Solid adobe brick walls provide effective thermal insulation while linking to local traditions.
03
The design incorporates green roofs, supporting biodiversity and rainwater harvesting.
04
Angular volumes are carefully positioned to preserve the visual prominence of the historic chapel.
05
Each hotel room features a private loggia, offering unique views of the surrounding vineyards.

Hotel Pôr Do Sol is located in Quinta do Monte D'Oiro, surrounded by rolling vineyards that highlight the region's rich winemaking tradition. It serves as a retreat for visitors seeking relaxation and a deeper connection to nature. The design seeks to provide a modern hospitality experience while respecting the local heritage and environment.

Architectural Concept
The design consists of several angular volumes that interact with the landscape. These new buildings are intentionally kept lower than the existing chapel, allowing it to maintain its prominence within the scenery. This careful planning fosters a connection between the built structures and their natural surroundings. The arrangement not only preserves the site's historical elements but also encourages engagement with the outdoor environment.

Materiality
Solid adobe brick plays a central role in the construction of the hotel. This material provides effective thermal insulation, contributing to the building's energy efficiency. Using adobe brick links the design to regional traditions, reflecting an understanding of local architecture. Additionally, green roofs are incorporated, which support biodiversity and help collect rainwater, emphasizing a commitment to sustainability in the design.

Spatial Arrangement
Inside the hotel, the layout is designed to improve the guest experience. The reception area is set within a sunken courtyard, providing views over the vineyards and the surrounding landscape. Each hotel room features its own loggia, offering private outdoor spaces for relaxation. This connection to nature is a significant aspect, enhancing the overall comfort of the stay.

Public Areas and Amenities
The hotel includes various public spaces, such as the Dining Hall and Recreational Area, linked by covered walkways. This connection facilitates easy movement throughout the facility while encouraging social interaction among guests. The landscape features gardens and water elements, contributing to a peaceful atmosphere and enhancing the natural beauty of the site.

A notable detail of the design is the sunken swimming pool garden. This feature allows natural light and air to flow freely, creating a quiet and serene space for guests. The integration of these thoughtful elements exemplifies how careful design can enhance the overall experience of a place.

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
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
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
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
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

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