Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Volcanic Ash Structure with Organic Forms and Green Ramps

Authors:
Paolo Piscitelli, Federica Iorio, Angela Palumbo, Giandomenico Tammaro
Volcanic Ash Structure with Organic Forms and Green Ramps
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed with volcanic ash, the design incorporates organic forms and green ramps, creating a cohesive space for social interaction and exhibition activities amid the surrounding landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with concrete made from volcanic ash, enhancing ecological integration.
02
Features a covered courtyard that serves as a central green space connecting two functional blocks.
03
Incorporates *canons à lumière* in the roof design, maximizing natural light throughout the interior.
04
Utilizes locally-sourced wood herringbone parquet to add warmth to the first level.
05
Includes ramps for accessibility, facilitating movement between levels while promoting social interaction.

The "IN OUT VOLCANO" architectural design is situated in a landscape influenced by volcanic formations. It features a dual-block configuration that echoes the natural conical shape of a volcano. The layout integrates functional spaces on two levels, fostering interaction among visitors. The design concept highlights a strong connection to nature, directing views toward the horizon and the surrounding volcanic landscape.

Design Concept

The project has sloping facades that enhance views of the natural environment, allowing both blocks to engage with the landscape. A central covered courtyard at the lower level acts as a green space, linking the two functional blocks. Ramps enable easy movement throughout the building, encouraging a flow that enhances social interaction and a sense of community.

Natural Light Integration

Natural light plays a significant role in the experience of the spaces. Light enters through slits in the facades and is further enhanced by *canons à lumière* on the roofs. This design brings warmth and brightness to the interiors while creating varied visual angles for those inside. The relationship between light and space encourages a connection to the natural surroundings, making the experience enjoyable for visitors.

Interior Spaces

The coffee area spans two levels, offering a setting for social interaction. In the courtyard, tables and chairs allow visitors to gather amid greenery. The bar area on the entrance level offers seating at the counter and in the surrounding area, with furniture designed to complement the overall aesthetic. This arrangement creates a welcoming environment that promotes engagement among visitors.

Material Selection

The choice of materials enhances the project’s ecological approach. Concrete made from volcanic ash forms the main structure, providing durability while resonating with the volcanic landscape. The external walls utilize reinforced concrete, maintaining visual continuity with the environment. Inside, the first level features locally-sourced wood herringbone parquet, which adds a warm touch, while polished concrete flooring at level -3.00 m serves a practical purpose of ensuring resilience and ease of cleaning.

The careful selection of materials supports the overall design, emphasizing a connection between the built form and its natural context. Each element works together to create an environment that invites exploration and appreciation of the landscape.

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