Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Timber Structure That Harvests Rainwater in a Gateway to Wetlands

Authors:
Nik Maksimenko, Robert Barker, Michael Croghan
Timber Structure That Harvests Rainwater in a Gateway to Wetlands
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
A timber structure designed to capture rainwater and seamlessly connect visitors to the boglands serves as a functional gateway, promoting environmental awareness and community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
A bent A-frame structure enhances natural light penetration and spatial dynamics.
02
Cross-laminated timber panels provide both structural support and energy efficiency.
03
Charred wooden shingles contribute to durability while minimizing maintenance needs.
04
Rainwater harvesting systems supply water for restrooms and landscaping.
05
Design includes recreational elements like playgrounds integrated within the natural setting.

The Kemeri Visitor Centre is placed at a vital point for accessing the Kemeri boglands, blending well with the surrounding landscape. It serves as an important location for visitors, inviting them to explore the natural beauty of the area. The design is focused on creating an easy flow between the built environment and the surrounding nature. Inspired by traditional Scandinavian fishing flakes, the centre emphasizes openness and encourages visitors to engage with the landscape.

Conceptual Framework
The visitor centre functions as a gateway that connects the woodland and marshland. Its axial layout directs visitors from the parking area into the rich natural setting. With expansive views of both the bogland and the camping facilities, the design invites exploration. Clear entry points and a varied structural rhythm enhance movement throughout the space, making it easier for visitors to navigate and interact.

Materiality
Materials play an important role in the building's connection to the environment. Locally sourced materials, such as trees cut from nearby areas, are used throughout the design. These trees are attached to galvanized steel plates fixed to concrete footings, providing a strong but light structure. This choice not only supports sustainability but also creates a visual link to the surroundings. Essential features like snow guards and sunshades are made from sawn timbers, while the walls consist of prefabricated insulated timber frame panels that improve energy efficiency.

Environmental Considerations
The design aims to operate off-grid, showcasing innovative environmental features. Rainwater is collected from the roof for use in restrooms, and greywater is handled through a treatment tank to reduce impact on the local ecosystem. Solar panels supply electricity and heated water, decreasing reliance on traditional energy sources. Additionally, a heat pump system provides warmth, drawing energy from the earth or the air for efficiency.

Seasonal Adaptability
Flexibility is a key aspect of the visitor centre's design. The café and restroom areas serve as central facilities, functioning as a winter ticket office that minimizes heating needs. In the warmer months, fabric canopies are used to extend the usable space, providing outdoor dining areas and opportunities for recreational activities. Elements like climbing structures and swings are incorporated to enhance visitor interaction, creating a lively environment throughout the year.


The overall design results in a framework that stands out, allowing the visitor centre to adapt easily to changing weather and seasonal activities, while encouraging a connection to the natural surroundings.

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