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 Structure with Glass and Concrete Elements Nestled Under a Forest Canopy

Authors:
Weihao He, Shi Qi Tang, Jing Yi Wang, Yue Hou
Vertical Structure with Glass and Concrete Elements Nestled Under a Forest Canopy
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Elevated urns arranged in a spiral formation create a reflective space, harmonizing with the surrounding forest while utilizing glass and concrete to redefine the function of a contemporary memorial facility.
5 key facts about this project
01
Spiral arrangement of urns enhances vertical integration within the site.
02
Mirrored pool reflects natural surroundings, fostering introspection.
03
Glass façade allows natural light to permeate the mourning space.
04
Metal brackets support transparency and weightlessness of the structure.
05
Interactive memorial features enable personalized visitor engagement.

The project "Being Towards Death – A Vertical Cemetery In The Forest" represents an architectural response to the traditional concept of cemeteries. Situated within a forest, this design not only honors the deceased but also engages the living in a reflective experience surrounding mortality. The vertical organization of the cemetery allows for a unique interaction between space, nature, and memory, redefining how memorialization can be perceived and experienced.

The primary function of the design is to provide a serene and contemplative environment where families can connect with their loved ones who have passed away. The columbarium, a central feature, is a vertically structured component that accommodates urns in a thoughtful distribution, allowing for personal reflection while maintaining a compact footprint. The design includes a mourning room for ceremonies, a mirrored pool for introspection, and interactive elements encouraging visitor engagement.

The material palette comprises glass, concrete, and metal, each chosen for its inherent qualities and symbolic meanings. Glass provides transparency and openness, allowing light to permeate the space, while concrete offers structural integrity, symbolizing the permanence of memory. Metal contributes to the overall structural support and serves as a link between earth and sky, reinforcing the project’s dual relationship with life and death.

The unique aspect of this project resides in its representation of the deceased as part of a cosmic journey. The vertical arrangement of urns not only saves land but also allows for a metaphorical ascent towards the sky, reinforcing the transitory nature of existence. Unlike traditional cemeteries that can appear solemn, this design fosters a dialogue about life, mortality, and remembrance.

The integration with the surrounding forest landscape plays a crucial role in the overall design approach. By harmonizing the structure with its natural environment, the monument becomes a part of the ecosystem, inviting nature into the experience of grieving. The mirrored pool positioned within the space further enhances this integration, allowing visitors to engage with reflections, both physical and metaphorical, representing inner thoughts and emotions.

The interactive features embedded throughout the site create opportunities for visitors to leave messages or engage with the space in personally meaningful ways. This is particularly significant in modern memorialization practices, where personalization and involvement contribute to the overall experience.

To explore more about the architectural elements, including architectural plans, architectural sections, and architectural designs associated with this innovative project, interested readers are encouraged to delve deeper into the presentation. Insights into architectural ideas can enhance understanding of how design can reshape perceptions surrounding life, death, and memory within a contemporary context.

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