Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Vertical Garden and Lava Brick Integration in a Multifunctional Visitor Center

Authors:
Betsalel Fogel, Andrea Capra, Federica Masia
Vertical Garden and Lava Brick Integration in a Multifunctional Visitor Center

Project in-detail

Combining a double helix form with vertical gardens and local lava bricks, the design achieves an eco-sensitive integration into its volcanic surroundings while serving as a multifunctional visitor center.
5 key facts about this project
01
Combines a double helix structure with a focus on accessibility through wide ramps.
02
Utilizes locally sourced lava bricks for thermal insulation and resilience.
03
Incorporates a vertical garden, enhancing air quality and visitor experience.
04
Features carbonated wooden panels that connect the interior to the natural environment.
05
Design emphasizes ecological sensitivity within a volcanic landscape context.

Hvolfa Gíg: The Invert Crater is an architectural project situated on a volcanic site, serving as a multifunctional visitor center and exhibition space. The design aims to reconstruct the original form of the volcano by rebuilding the lost top, presenting an innovative approach to integrating architecture with geological features. This project seeks to symbolize a harmonious relationship between human activity and the natural landscape, emphasizing ecological sustainability and community engagement.

The primary function of Hvolfa Gíg is to facilitate educational and recreational experiences for various user groups, including tourists and researchers. The internal arrangement includes administrative offices, exhibition areas, and spaces for social interaction, executed in a manner that invites exploration. The project allows for effective circulation while maintaining the integrity of the surrounding landscape, encouraging visitors to appreciate both the architecture and the volcanic environment.

The design incorporates key elements that distinguish it from typical visitor centers. One unique aspect is the central vertical garden, which contributes to indoor air quality and enhances visitor experience through visual greenery. Additionally, the project employs local lava bricks in its construction. These materials are not only environmentally sustainable but also resonate culturally with the site's geological context. The building's upper levels, made from carbonated wooden panels, add a modern aesthetic while linking back to the surrounding natural elements.

The access routes in the project feature wide ramps with a gentle incline, ensuring inclusivity for all visitors. This thoughtful integration promotes ease of movement throughout the space. The signature double helix design not only reflects the crater’s circular shape but also creates a dynamic spatial flow, encouraging interaction among various sections of the center. The central core of the building, designed for exhibitions and collaborative workstations, serves as the heart of the visitor experience.

As you explore Hvolfa Gíg: The Invert Crater, delve deeper into the architectural plans, sections, and designs that detail this sophisticated integration of architecture with the volcanic landscape. Review these elements to appreciate the comprehensive design ideas that inform this project.

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

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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