Foreword
Buildner is pleased to announce the results of its Iceland Beer Spa international competition!
The Iceland Beer Spa architecture competition tasked architects and designers to showcase their creativity and innovation by proposing a new facility that combines the functions of a brewery, cafe snack bar, souvenir shop, and Beer Spa on the grounds of the Sel Hotel, a family-run establishment situated next to the legendary Skútustaðagígar craters in the Myvatn lake region of Iceland. 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.
Buildner and its partner the Sel Hotel recommended the following program elements: a brewery with brewing equipment visible to and engaging for visitors; a comfortable cafe snack bar and seating area for guests to relax and socialize; a souvenir shop that reflects the spirit of the region and offers unique, locally-sourced products that appeal to tourists; a beer spa incorporating the therapeutic qualities of beer and the natural beauty of the surrounding environment to create a relaxing and rejuvenating experience for guests; and terraces at ground level and rooftops that offer extra seating and relaxation areas, taking advantage of the stunning Myvatn lake area scenery and providing opportunities for outdoor leisure activities.
Buildner worked with an experienced jury with panelists from Iceland and abroad: Marshall Blecher is a co founder of MAST, a maritime architecture studio based in Copenhagen; Francisco Garcia de Freitas is a founder of Lisbon-based Atelier RUA - Arquitectos; Ricardo Gomes is partner and a founder of KWY.studio, based in Lisbon; Borghildur Indriðadóttir is an artist that lives and works in Reykjavík, Iceland; Hildur Ísdal is an architect and interior designer, working at Plusark based in Reykjavík, Iceland; Søren Leth is a partner and co-founder of SLETH in Aarhus, Denmark; Inés Olavarrieta is an architect and designer at Madrid-based selgascano; Sigrún Sumarliðadóttir is a co founder and Principal of Studio Bua, an architectural practice with offices in London and Oslo; and Willem van Bolderen, Founding Partner of Studio Puisto Architects.
Buildner and its jury panel would like to thank all participants for their work and to congratulate the winners and shortlisted participants for their outstanding ideas.
1st Prize Winner
The Loop - Wheat Whispers Brew Haven
While larger firms may prioritize commercial projects, we aim to maintain a sharp focus on pushing the boundaries of design creativity.
Read full interviewJury feedback summary
The proposal for The Loop: Wheat Whispers Brew Haven incorporates a wheat-growing initiative into its courtyard house design, mirroring the adjacent craters. This courtyard functions as both a practical wheat field and a scenic landscape, delivering an immersive and educational encounter for guests. Drawing inspiration from Iceland's winter bathing tradition, the design advocates for a large, communal bath situated on an open terrace. This shared experience enables guests to commune with nature while indulging in the comforting warmth of the beer spa. By offering this shared and open beer spa terrace, the designers aim to capture the essence of community, nature, and the Icelandic love for outdoor bathing, providing a unique and unforgettable experience for guests. The external architecture is envisioned as resembling a miniature volcano, and incorporates elements that mimic volcanic features, with a gently sloping structure and a crater-like opening.
A simple but effective design with strong images and clear graphics of quality. It could however be more grounded and not just placed on a parking lot.
Sigrún Sumarliðadóttir / Buildner guest jury
Studio BUA, UK
Graphically, I find this project to be very powerful and attention-grabbing compared to the others, and that is something crucial for a competition. The images also convey a lot of energy and follow the same aesthetic as the rest of the proposal.
Inés Olavarrieta / Buildner guest jury
Architect and designer at selgascano, Spain
A subtle and convincing solution with a surprising interior spatial expression.
Søren Leth / Buildner guest jury
Partner and Co-founder, SLETH, Denmark
A clear, gentle and earthly approach.
Borghildur Indriðadóttir / Buildner guest jury
Artist on the Moon, Iceland
The proposal fits best into the existing ensemble as a subtle addition without looking foreign. On the inside however it provides interesting spaces through a simple rotation of the floorplan that creates unexpected visual connections between the different areas of the programme.
Ricardo Gomes / Buildner guest jury
Partner, KWY.studio, Portugal
A building that is set up with simplicity and modesty but surprises us on the inside as if it were a crater.
Francisco Garcia de Freitas / Buildner guest jury
Atelier RUA - Arquitectos, Portugal
Sophisticated use of straw bale construction and planning around a courtyard of wheat but poor planning and no cafe as per brief with vertical circulation that is nowhere near long enough.
Pip Cheshire / Buildner guest jury
Director, Cheshire Architects, New Zealand
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
Order your review hereThe project makes use of advanced imagery and line drawings to tell a compelling story and which make the project a true architectural proposal. The renderings are often dark, empty and could be perceived as gloomy; they would benefit from annotation to describe materials or main concepts, human scale figures to give a sense of the spatial experience, and additional illumination or a less extreme contrast between light and dark in order to yield more promising, warm and dynamic interior spaces. The diagrams and text are recommended to be increased in size for readability. And the project would be strengthened with detailed drawings that describe materiality and constructability.
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8/10 Linework
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8/10 Quality of drawings
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8/10 Balance of color
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7/10 Layout
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10/10 Hierarchy
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8/10 Annotation
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8/10 Text
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8/10 Clarity of story
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9/10 Clarity of diagrams
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8/10 Quality of overall presentation
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The Architect's Chair
2nd Prize Winner
Ethereal
Competitions are a way to escape from so many rules you have to follow, when you are really designing a client's project. It gives you freedom and also this idea of ' is this allowed?´ or ´should I take this path instead of this one?´. It makes you search for new and different approaches. It is more than having a bigger portfolio. It is a way to exercise your brain and have fun.
Read full interview
PortugalJury feedback summary
Ethereal is designed to offer a unique experience, standing out, not only for its defined program but also for its pure geometric approach. Based on a square floor plan, all the interior spaces are delineated through circles and semicircles, resulting in a modern and relaxing environment that creates an organic set of spaces. The ground floor is designed as a bar, with connections to the exterior, where the landscape can be seen. On the lower level an intimate visit to the brewery is created. The design is meant to resemble that of a home, seamlessly integrating into the surrounding environment.
This is contextually well integrated and spatially well-solved. No more, no less.
Søren Leth / Buildner guest jury
Partner and Co-founder, SLETH, Denmark
A simple, clearly articulated proposal that fits well into the context.
Marshall Blecher / Buildner guest jury
Founder at Studio Marshall Blecher & Co-founder at MAST, Denmark
The program is well structured, clear, and functional. Although the detail of the geometry is anecdotal, the overall image of the building is coherent.
Inés Olavarrieta / Buildner guest jury
Architect and designer at selgascano, Spain
A beautiful proposal that matches both the surrounding environment and the exotic shape of the nearby craters. It had a different approach from other proposals by offering a spa and brewery underground. However, the interior spa experience does not connect with the outstanding views it could offer. The brewery, even though it is beautifully designed, becomes disconnected from the public area while located in the basement and only accessible through a side door.
Hildur Isdal / Buildner guest jury
Plusark, Iceland
A simple volume that adds to the existing ensemble but is distinct in its difference. The interior follows this principle, clear and simple rooms with subtle gestures of curved, well proportioned spaces.
Ricardo Gomes / Buildner guest jury
Partner, KWY.studio, Portugal
A simple, clear gesture that blends in with its surroundings. Well presented and developed work. Beautiful design.
Francisco Garcia de Freitas / Buildner guest jury
Atelier RUA - Arquitectos, Portugal
A strong form, good subterranean spa but seems to ignore the existing building and it turns its back on the lakes and hills, with lots of concrete in the basement.
Pip Cheshire / Buildner guest jury
Director, Cheshire Architects, New Zealand
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
Order your review hereThe project successfully uses a mix of visuals to describe a very believable project. The line drawings carry a unique aesthetic that places emphasis on the massiveness of walls and floors, and which very clearly describe the spaces the building contains. The renderings are clear and crisp and communicate well the various experiences within the project. The presentation would benefit from key conceptual statements on each sheet to strengthen the reasoning behind the design and to summarize the drawings contained on each page. The renderings would also be strengthened with annotation to clearly describe the design intent of each space at a technical level.
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10/10 Linework
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10/10 Quality of drawings
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9/10 Balance of color
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9/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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9/10 Annotation
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9/10 Text
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9/10 Clarity of story
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9/10 Clarity of diagrams
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9/10 Quality of overall presentation
3rd Prize Winner
Beerd's eye view
Architectural competitions give you the freedom to create projects with your own vision. Rules give direction to the movement of thought, but do not tie hands. This allows you to bring all your creative potential and design perspective to the project. Our main goal with competitions is to refine our creative voice and fill out our portfolio with diverse projects. We think that this experience would help us to engage with the design process on a more deep level.
Read full interview
GeorgiaJury feedback summary
Beerds Eye View places focus on the surrounding Icelandic landscape, visible from the cafe, bar, and lounge with expansive views of the lake and craters. It posits that the best view of the nearby craters is from a height, and includes a tower with a beer tub on the top for visitors to enjoy a bird's-eye view. A key element of the project is the local brewery at its core, where machinery can be admired from various vantage points - whether lounging in the spa, savoring beer at the bar, or dining in the cafe.
A simple building with a surprising tower experience.
Søren Leth / Buildner guest jury
Partner and Co-founder, SLETH, Denmark
A modest well considered exterior belies a surprising and radical interior world. Who wouldn't want to have a beer in a spa on top of a tower overlooking the craters.
Marshall Blecher / Buildner guest jury
Founder at Studio Marshall Blecher & Co-founder at MAST, Denmark
The spa tower is like a stairway to heaven.
Willem van Bolderen / Buildner guest jury
Founding Partner, Studio Puisto Architects Ltd, Finland
The tower idea is an interesting feature and helps with the simple shape of the rest of the building. The tower may also be a restriction as it is quite small and may be difficult to manage in such a building. Materials are considered and the images are strong. seems rooted in the context and helps with the existing building. The plan seems well considered apart from the tower.
Sigrún Sumarliðadóttir / Buildner guest jury
Studio BUA, UK
The organization of the program around the brewery area is quite interesting. The introduction of an element in height is also a good strategy, both for distributing the program and for achieving the best possible views in all directions.
Inés Olavarrieta / Buildner guest jury
Architect and designer at selgascano, Spain
A good conceptual strategy that promotes a close relationship with the lake. The tower can be a good attraction and promotes a unique view of the lake.
Francisco Garcia de Freitas / Buildner guest jury
Atelier RUA - Arquitectos, Portugal
Nice idea of tower though wrecked by a grimm external stair, with a roof sheltered environment not taken advantage of, and poor planning.
Pip Cheshire / Buildner guest jury
Director, Cheshire Architects, New Zealand
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
Order your review hereThe project makes use of sophisticated, photorealistic images and advanced line drawings. The imagery would be strengthened with some human scale figures to give a sense that this public building is well designed to accommodate dynamic activities and uses. As shown, the spaces are empty and without life, albeit greatly detailed with excellent material textures and spaces which are clean and airy. The text would benefit from being increased in size for legibility. The structure at the top of the tower cantilevered above the panoramic windows could also be further considered for constructability in this extreme climate.
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8/10 Linework
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9/10 Quality of drawings
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9/10 Balance of color
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9/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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9/10 Annotation
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8/10 Text
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8/10 Clarity of story
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10/10 Clarity of diagrams
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9/10 Quality of overall presentation
Buildner Student Award
Out of the Ground
As a collective, this is the first time we have all individually collaborated on a project together. Being relatively new to the field of architecture, we are eager to understand and analyze the current conditions of our built environment. Architectural competitions provide us with the platform to establish our voice and explore our interests through the act of creation. In academia and the professional world, the design and construction of a building can be a lengthy process, whereas competitions allow us to work swiftly based on our instincts and intuition.
Read full interview
United StatesJury feedback summary
Out of the Ground states that “the ‘ground’ is a varied and intricate condition.” The design draws from local house construction that utilizes stone foundations as a method to isolate the moisture from the exterior. It also proposes the beer spa as an extension of the site’s cratered topography. An undulating roof echoes the landscape and highlights moments of collective activities with skylights. Eager to engage with the street on the first level, inverse geometries of the roof are carved from the facades to offer views of the landscape.
An interesting shape but little relationship with ground, hotel or construction.
Pip Cheshire / Buildner guest jury
Director, Cheshire Architects, New Zealand
The variation in the geometry of the roof to create skylights and use them as bathtubs is quite intriguing. It’s interesting to see how that new landscape is generated at the highest level. Moreover, the program is well-organized. The use of geothermal energy is also highly commendable.
Inés Olavarrieta / Buildner guest jury
Architect and designer at selgascano, Spain
The crater effect of the exterior design seems to work well on the roofscape. The design could be simplified. The Plan seems worked out and the organic forms suit the design.
Sigrún Sumarliðadóttir / Buildner guest jury
Studio BUA, UK
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
Order your review hereThe presentation has excellent visuals paired with simple diagrams to communicate its various design decisions. The overall plans and sections, while interesting, are unfortunately small - doubling their size on the sheets would greatly increase their impact and more clearly describe the information they convey. The site plan takes up half a sheet yet does not include a great amount of detail and appears rather unfinished and empty. This is perhaps the intent to describe the vastness of the landscape yet could be overlaid at the very least with annotation and descriptions that increase its complexity.
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8/10 Linework
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9/10 Quality of drawings
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10/10 Balance of color
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9/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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9/10 Annotation
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9/10 Text
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9/10 Clarity of story
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10/10 Clarity of diagrams
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9/10 Quality of overall presentation
Buildner Sustainability Award
Beer Spa
I participate in architecture competitions because they allow me to explore innovative design concepts, push the boundaries of my creativity, and refine my technical skills. They provide an opportunity to explore design challenges I might not encounter in my day-to-day work.
Read full interview
SpainJury feedback summary
The building here merges with the natural landscape. It responds to the natural terrain as it descends at the east end, unveiling an inviting panorama of the adjacent fields. Through a “meticulous process of excavation”, the building is brought into alignment with the contours of the land. This strategic alteration of the terrain establishes a fluid connection between the interior spaces and the surrounding environment, creating an immersive experience that blurs the boundaries between inside and out. Retaining walls are reimagined as multifunctional elements, transitioning into planters, integrated benches, and designated spaces for sinks. The roof is extended on all sides close to the ground to provide privacy from the adjacent parking area and to further establish a connection with the surrounding nature.
Guests ascend into the building while the landscape opens up. Modest, but very impactful.
Willem van Bolderen / Buildner guest jury
Founding Partner, Studio Puisto Architects Ltd, Finland
Probably the proposal with the foremost contact to the landscape and geological matters.
Søren Leth / Buildner guest jury
Partner and Co-founder, SLETH, Denmark
Although the concept is strong the design lacks clarity. The plane could have been much stronger with the use of different materials above and underneath.
Sigrún Sumarliðadóttir / Buildner guest jury
Studio BUA, UK
The idea of burying the building seems very fitting. However, the positioning in relation to the adjacent parking seems like a mistake. It would have been good to include some vegetation barrier or work on the topography to hide views towards the cars. The program is well resolved, without pretensions.
Inés Olavarrieta / Buildner guest jury
Architect and designer at selgascano, Spain
A beautiful proposal with stunning views and good layouts, however not fully functional all year round in a harsh climate.
Hildur Isdal / Buildner guest jury
Plusark, Iceland
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
Order your review hereThe primary critique of this presentation is that there is an overall lack of hierarchy, both within the line drawings which consist of lines all very similar in weight, as well as with the overall layout and size of images which are also quite consistent. The two interior images of the cafeteria space for instance do not describe significantly different information and could be reduced to a single more impactful image. The overall sections and axonometry are very beautiful and detailed and are to be lauded for the amount of information and proof of design concept they communicate. The author is also recommended to consider the use of bolder, stronger colors either within the drawings or diagrams to give more variation and interest to the presentation layout.
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9/10 Linework
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9/10 Quality of drawings
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8/10 Balance of color
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8/10 Layout
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8/10 Hierarchy
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8/10 Annotation
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8/10 Text
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9/10 Clarity of story
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9/10 Clarity of diagrams
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8/10 Quality of overall presentation
Client Favorite
C(A)RA(C)TERS
HungaryJury feedback summary
This two-story building features a lower layer that is an open public space, transparent and whereby the boundary between outside and inside is blurred. The upper layer forms, according to the authors, a “ a protective, warm, embracing space.” At select points this protective cover opens up letting users enjoy the beautiful views, merging the warm interior with the impressive exteriors. The building is designed as if it has grown naturally, outlined by raw materials, such as wood and basalt.
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
Order your review hereThis project uses a crisp and simple layout with an intelligent selection of key images on each sheet, varying in size to provide clear hierarchy, and carrying consistent colors that are specific to each sheet. The use of multiple rendered perspectives interior and exterior, as well as advanced cut-away axonometries, communicate well the building’s interior spatial experience and its means of circulation. The project would benefit from a detail to describe the material buildup of the envelope. It would also be strengthened with additional linework and materiality in the two primary sections, which currently give a good understanding of the building’s form but do not provide much information as to the relationship among or feeling of the interior spaces. A clear title would also help this project stand out.
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7/10 Linework
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9/10 Quality of drawings
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10/10 Balance of color
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9/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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9/10 Annotation
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8/10 Text
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8/10 Clarity of story
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10/10 Clarity of diagrams
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9/10 Quality of overall presentation
Honorable Mentions
Shortlisted projects
the monölith
United Kingdom Beerd's eye view
Georgia The Loop - Wheat Whispers Brew Haven
United States EUREKA
South Korea Under the Eaves
Japan Myvatn Öl House : One box at the time
Canada TREASURE BOX
Hong Kong Ale Eruption
Poland Project ID 191857
University of the Arts London
+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
United Kingdom Icelanding wellness
Italy Gangabær, Mývatn Beer Spa
Mint Hamburg GmbH
Germany THE IMAGE OF SKUTUSTAOIR
RMUTT - Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi
+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
Thailand Beer Spa
Spain Grounded
Germany C(A)RA(C)TERS
Hungary Peaks of Embrace: Brewery and Spa
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
United States THE BEERCON
Spain Sel Skala
United States Iceland Beer Spa
The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (KADK) , Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi
+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
Denmark Mývatn Serenity Spa
Netherlands STONE BREW RETREAT
Mexico 
BOXES OF FIVE SENSES
Shandong University of Art & Design
+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
China Beer on the Rocks
Sweden NORTHEAST BY SOUTHWEST
Norway The Baðstofa Beer Spa
Netherlands Ægir Center
Italy 
The Craters
Germany 
BrewScape
China Mývatn Beer Spa
United States 
BrewCrater
Germany Slökun Beer Spa
Toronto Metropolitan University - TMU
+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
Canada The Mist of Mývatn
United States Ethereal
Portugal Pseudocrater
United States 
