The Contemporary Home
between Buildner and ArchDaily, that aims to
explore “The Contemporary Home”.
Learn more here.

Competition introduction
The Myvatn lake area, located in the heart of Iceland, is a mesmerizing destination celebrated for its awe-inspiring landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, and extraordinary geothermal activity. Visitors to this enchanting region are captivated by its myriad geological wonders, such as the renowned Myvatn Nature Baths, the magnificent Húsavík whale watching area, and the striking Dimmuborgir lava formations. Among these fascinating attractions, the legendary Skútustaðagígar craters hold a special place, offering a unique blend of beauty and history.
The Iceland Beer Spa architecture competition presents a unique opportunity for architects and designers to showcase their creativity and innovation in the breathtaking Myvatn lake area of Iceland. Sel Hotel, a family-run establishment with a rich history, is situated right next to the legendary Skútustaðagígar craters, offering a prime location for a groundbreaking multi-purpose facility. The competition seeks to create a landmark destination that reflects the spirit of the region and provides an unforgettable experience for both tourists and locals alike.
The Myvatn lake area, located in the heart of Iceland, is a mesmerizing destination celebrated for its awe-inspiring landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, and extraordinary geothermal activity.
This exciting challenge invites you to replace the existing structure on the hotel grounds with a new facility that combines the functions of a brewery, cafe snack bar, and souvenir shop, while introducing a new key feature: the Beer Spa. Your design should focus on creating an inviting, functional, and innovative space that appeals to a wide range of guests.
Sel Hotel, a family-run establishment (photo: Elvar Yngvason, Anna Mary Yngvadóttir, Ásdís Erla Jóhannesdóttir, Yngvi Ragnar Kristjánsson) with a rich history, is situated right next to the legendary Skútustaðagígar craters, offering a prime location for a groundbreaking multi-purpose facility. The competition seeks to create a landmark destination that reflects the spirit of the region and provides an unforgettable experience for both tourists and locals alike.
Buildner encourages architects and designers to participate in this competition and bring their vision for the Iceland Beer Spa to life. Your submission should demonstrate your design skills and reflect an understanding of sustainable building practices, as the client has expressed an intention to construct the project. This is a rare opportunity to contribute to the evolution of hospitality and wellness in one of Iceland's most enchanting regions. We look forward to receiving your innovative and environmentally sensitive designs that have the potential to make a lasting impact on the Myvatn Lake area and the world of architecture.
Download the full competition brief for more information!
Competition is open to all. No professional qualification is required. Design proposals can be developed individually or by teams (4 team members maximum). Correspondence with organizers must be conducted in English; All information submitted by participants must be in English.
Full competition brief
The full competition brief can be downloaded as often as required; no additional information will be provided after registration.
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- (!) FULL COMPETITION BRIEF
- Règles de compétition
- Reglas de la competencia
- Regolamento del concorso
- PHOTO & VIDEO
Prizes
Certificate of Achievement
Certificate of Achievement
Certificate of Achievement
Certificate of Achievement
+ 50 Points BUILDNER Architecture University Rankings
Publications
Certificate of Achievement
Publications
Certificate of Achievement
CERTIFICATE:
Buildner will also acknowledge the outstanding performance of all winners and honourable mentions with Certificates of Achievement.
Publicity campaign
The Buildner’s extensive global publicity campaign for the competition winners:
- "SEEN BY" ONE MILLION Results published on buildner.com - one of the leading websites in the industry and is visited by over one million unique visitors each year.
- "SEEN BY" 800 000 MORE Publications on Buildner's social networks (over 600,000 followers) and newsletter campaigns (over 200,000 subscribers).
- INTERVIEW Exclusive interview published with the results and shared on Buildner's social networks.
- MOVIE The competition winners will be granted and opportunity to submit a movie about themselves. The video will be published on the Buildner's website and social networks.
- MEDIA PARTNERS The competition results will get international art and design media coverage and will be featured in the world’s leading architecture media outlets.
Jury panel
All communication regarding the competition should only be carried out with Buildner staff. For any questions please contact us on [email protected]
Buildner is committed to selecting the most qualified industry professionals to comprise its jury panels. Jury panels consist of architects, in addition to professionals from other professional backgrounds that are relevant to the competition topic, to guarantee the most objective competition results.
You may find the invited jury list from previous competitions here – https://architecturecompetitions.com/guest-jury/
Key dates
Closing date for registration
08 November, 2023
Closing date for project submission
12 December, 2023 (11:59pm London time)
Announcement of the winners
21 February, 2024
Competition Q&A deadline: 14 November, 2023
In order to guarantee equal opportunities to all competition participants,
no new questions will be answered after this deadline!
Registration fees
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Early Bird Registration09 May - 14 June
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Architects / Enthusiasts / Companies90 €Full award packageThis registration provides a complete set of prizes, including certificates of achievement, monetary rewards, and potential construction benefits.60 €No monetary awardThis registration offers a comprehensive set of prizes, including recognition through publicity, certificates of achievement, and potential construction-related benefits, without any monetary awards.
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Students80 €Full award packageThis registration provides a complete set of prizes, including certificates of achievement, monetary rewards, and potential construction benefits.60 €No monetary awardThis registration offers a comprehensive set of prizes, including recognition through publicity, certificates of achievement, and potential construction-related benefits, without any monetary awards.
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Advance Registration15 June - 14 September
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Architects / Enthusiasts / Companies110 €Full award packageThis registration provides a complete set of prizes, including certificates of achievement, monetary rewards, and potential construction benefits.85 €No monetary awardThis registration offers a comprehensive set of prizes, including recognition through publicity, certificates of achievement, and potential construction-related benefits, without any monetary awards.
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Students100 €Full award packageThis registration provides a complete set of prizes, including certificates of achievement, monetary rewards, and potential construction benefits.80 €No monetary awardThis registration offers a comprehensive set of prizes, including recognition through publicity, certificates of achievement, and potential construction-related benefits, without any monetary awards.
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Last Minute Registration15 September - 08 November
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Architects / Enthusiasts / Companies130 €Full award packageThis registration provides a complete set of prizes, including certificates of achievement, monetary rewards, and potential construction benefits.95 €No monetary awardThis registration offers a comprehensive set of prizes, including recognition through publicity, certificates of achievement, and potential construction-related benefits, without any monetary awards.
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Students120 €Full award packageThis registration provides a complete set of prizes, including certificates of achievement, monetary rewards, and potential construction benefits.90 €No monetary awardThis registration offers a comprehensive set of prizes, including recognition through publicity, certificates of achievement, and potential construction-related benefits, without any monetary awards.
STUDENT REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Contact us to receive special student rates for group registrations (discount applies for 3+ registrations from one university/school) and to receive further information and support for getting your students involved in architecture competitions. Send us request from your university email address along with basic information about yourself and your university/school. Please note that only recognized university staff can apply for the reduced student rate.
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