Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Textured Concrete and Blue Clay Create a Serene Wellness Retreat Amidst Nature

Authors:
Edgar Alejandro Fernandez Cardenas, Diego Alonso Mata Sanchez, Erick Alejandro Gauna Perez, Edgar Omar Castro Legorreta
Textured Concrete and Blue Clay Create a Serene Wellness Retreat Amidst Nature
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Utilizing textured concrete and locally sourced blue clay, the design integrates harmoniously with the landscape to create a wellness retreat focused on relaxation and rejuvenation.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes locally sourced blue clay, enhancing thermal mass and integration with the site.
02
Incorporates textured concrete facades that promote natural weathering and durability.
03
Features large glass openings that frame views of the surrounding landscape while maximizing natural light.
04
Includes sustainable landscaping with native plants, reducing maintenance and supporting local biodiversity.
05
Design emphasizes a central water feature, providing calming soundscapes and a focal point for relaxation.

### Overview
Located in the Karsnice region of Latvia, the Blue Clay Country Spa is designed as a retreat that aligns with the natural landscape. The project prioritizes sustainability and seeks to establish a meaningful connection with the surrounding environment through the use of local materials and forms that reflect the site’s ecology. The architectural composition focuses on spatial arrangement, material selection, and aesthetic balance, creating an environment conducive to relaxation and rejuvenation.

### Spatial Configuration and Design
The layout of the spa comprises multiple structures organized around a central water feature, which enhances the themes of reflection and tranquility. Open green spaces, integrated with walking paths, invite visitors to explore the natural landscape. The design incorporates existing trees and natural elements, ensuring a cohesive integration with the environment. Varying building volumes accommodate both communal and private experiences, facilitating diverse interactions with nature. External facades utilize a textured concrete finish, reinforcing the structures' rugged yet refined attributes, while strategically placed openings foster a dialogue between interior spaces and the expansive surroundings.

### Materiality and Sustainability
The choice of materials reflects a commitment to sustainability and a connection to the local context. Concrete serves as a primary structural material, providing an earthy presence, while glass is employed to enhance natural light and views. Wood elements introduce warmth and comfort to the interiors. The incorporation of locally sourced earth, specifically blue clay, minimizes the project's carbon footprint and deepens its ties to the locality. The landscaping emphasizes native vegetation to support local wildlife and maintain visual harmony, while pathways are designed to blend seamlessly with the terrain, guiding visitors through the space while preserving the natural landscape flow.

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
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 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
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
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

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