Foreword
Buildner is excited to announce the results of its Iceland Ski Snow Cabin international competition!
Iceland's raw, untamed beauty provided a unique canvas where the snow whispered ancient tales and the Northern Lights danced above. The "Iceland Ski Snow Cabin" competition, organized by Buildner, invited architects and designers to enhance this magnificent landscape with a haven for the skiing community. This contest went beyond constructing a structure; it was about creating an experience that embodied the spirit of Icelandic winters.
Participants were challenged to design a small-scale cabin that served as a warm, inviting pit stop for skiers. The design needed to blend functionality with the enchanting Icelandic aesthetic, offering comfort and practicality while framing the stunning surrounding vistas. The cabin was required to include features such as a rest and warmth area, a self-serve refreshment station, changing rooms, toilets, equipment storage, and a maintenance garage for a snow groomer.
Buildner worked with an outstanding international jury to evaluate the submissions received: Francisco Garcia de Freitas of Portuguese firm Atelier RUA - Arquitectos; Anne Cecilie Haug of Oslo-based studio Snøhetta; Borghildur Indriðadóttir of the Icelandic office Teiknistofan Óðinstorgi; Hildur Ísdal of Iceland-based Plusark; Euan Millar of Icosis Architects; Tom Schroeder of Patkau Architects in Vancouver; and Sigrún Sumarliðadóttir of Studio Bua.
Buildner and its jurors extend their congratulations to the winners and thank each of the participating teams for the contribution to this event.
1st Prize Winner
Cold Cover
What excites me the most is the challenge of providing my own solutions for a wide variety of tasks and being able to share them with a community. The platform offers young architects, in particular, the opportunity to present new and inspiring ideas to enhance growth and personal development.
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GermanyJury feedback summary
Cold Cover is a year-round refuge for skiers and hikers, featuring a flexible facade that adapts to weather conditions by closing during storms to maintain a warm interior and opening in mild weather for fresh air and mountain views. Its brightly colored, robust sheet metal roof enhances visibility during snowstorms for added safety, echoing the tradition of fishermen painting their houses brightly to navigate through fog. Inside, pitched roofs house the hut’s functions, creating an open, inviting central space with uninterrupted mountain views. The modern, comfortable interior includes warm wood tones, cozy furniture, and a central fireplace. Sustainable features such as a rainwater collection system and solar panels ensure eco-friendly operation. Overall, Cold Cover combines functionality and design, offering a safe, comfortable retreat amidst Iceland’s wild beauty and northern lights.
A simple but effective plan which allows for flexibility. I like that the machine is inside the same room as everyone else, but this would require a very effective energy system as it would generate more heat in the space than necessary. Adaptability of the facade ensures different experiences througout the year
Anne Cecilie Haug / Buildner guest jury
Senior Architect, Snøhetta, Norway
It is nice to see the reference of the original A-frame hut that has been used for centuries in Iceland. The rooms to the sides have very low ceiling height, however.
Borghildur Indriðadóttir / Buildner guest jury
Artist on the Moon, Iceland
A captivating shape that pays tribute to the traditional icelandic mountain shelter. It appears solid in the harsh elements but still offers view points from the interior and has rationality in the robust interiors.
Hildur Isdal / Buildner guest jury
Plusark, Iceland
The building is conveniently placed at the end of the slopes and could create an aesthetic language together with the utilitarian objects in the landscape. The design is simple and the gesture strong. There is some reference to the local vernacular and one can see the connection is has to the local landscape. The is some mention to water re-use and solar panels but the sustainability aspect of this project could be stronger.
Sigrún Sumarliðadóttir / Buildner guest jury
Studio BUA, UK
A proposal with a very appealing design, which reminds us of the idea of shelter and with a very interesting strategy for adapting to different weather conditions.
Francisco Garcia de Freitas / Buildner guest jury
Atelier RUA - Arquitectos, Portugal
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
Order your review hereThe proposal showcases four panels, each featuring a high-quality primary image that occupies more than half of the page, effectively capturing the reader's attention through its hierarchy and detail. Below these images are supporting diagrammatic drawings, including conceptual imagery that justifies form and detailed drawings that describe material and construction. These secondary elements complement the primary images by providing additional information. While the project is visually well-explained, it would benefit from more annotations or descriptions within the large images and additional descriptive text across the four panels for better balance.
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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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9/10 Layout
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10/10 Hierarchy
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6/10 Annotation
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7/10 Text
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8/10 Clarity of story
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8/10 Clarity of diagrams
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8/10 Quality of overall presentation
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2nd Prize Winner
The Rising Basalt
Architecture competitions are an incredible way to broaden one’s mind and elaborate on knowledge. This first competition for all of us also meant working together with people we held in high regard. It was a way of actively choosing who to work with and learning to be productive despite having multiple things going on in our lives and being far away from each other.
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FinlandJury feedback summary
A good reference to Icelandic geology. Compact and well spaced out plan with a simple and elegant shape. The project includes a well-thought-out energy concept. It is covered, but an outdoor viewing platform is well solved. The building sits well in its landscape.
A good reference to Iceland's geology. A compact and well-spaced-out plan, simply and elegantly shaped, with an important and well-considered energy concept.
Anne Cecilie Haug / Buildner guest jury
Senior Architect, Snøhetta, Norway
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
Order your review hereThe submission features realistic renderings and a site plan supported by detailed material drawings, concept diagrams, and axonometries. The level of information is excellent and thorough, though it would benefit from a wider range of colors for visual variety. The text size and layout is small and overly dense, making it difficult to read. It would improve with further subdivision by topic and the use of bold words or subtitles for clarity and ease. A reader should not have to spend much time seeking descriptive information; ideally, they should be able to find what they are looking for immediately.
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9/10 Linework
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8/10 Quality of drawings
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7/10 Balance of color
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9/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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6/10 Annotation
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7/10 Text
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7/10 Clarity of story
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8/10 Clarity of diagrams
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8/10 Quality of overall presentation
3rd Prize Winner
Optical Earthform
Competitions are an opportunity to explore, often in less-bounded ways, allowing new ideas to emerge.
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United StatesJury feedback summary
The Optical Earthform ski cabin blends seamlessly with Iceland's landscape, creating an iconic destination that celebrates natural beauty while offering refuge from the elements. A tectonic cleave splits the earthform, forming a gateway, entry, and protected outdoor space. Dual mirrored surfaces create an immersive spectacle, visually extending and enhancing the surroundings, making the space feel both protected and open to nature. Utilizing prefabricated steel culverts and earth-berming, the design mimics the surrounding slopes and references Icelandic turf houses. This construction method ensures the building blends into the environment, provides structural efficiency, and adds insulation. Sustainable systems enhance resilience and reduce grid dependence, ideal for the remote site. The design interacts with Iceland's dynamic environment, reflecting stunning natural phenomena and changing with the seasons.
I'm immediately drawn to this design where the method seems to be expanding space and giving a pathway, essentially what skiing provides. The concept is clear but the pathway surface is not, and the doors turning outwards could get stuck easily. The finishing of the sleek outline where the glass meets it's edges could be better explained in detail.
Borghildur Indriðadóttir / Buildner guest jury
Artist on the Moon, Iceland
An interesting approach for a project that is even beautiful in summer.
Anne Cecilie Haug / Buildner guest jury
Senior Architect, Snøhetta, Norway
A beautiful and simple shape, and an innovative solution that would be interesting to develop further. It reframes the traditional icelandic turf house and will endure heavy winds.
Hildur Isdal / Buildner guest jury
Plusark, Iceland
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
Order your review hereAs a design submission for an architectural competition, this project ticks all the boxes. It does exactly what it needs to: providing clear hierarchy, excellent color balance, and unique drawings supplemented with clear, easy-to-read text. The use of select bold words allows readers to quickly understand what they are looking at or looking for. The colored sections, plans, and axonometric drawings are all one-of-a-kind and particularly informative. However, the project's rendered imagery would benefit from additional labels or annotative callouts to describe key concepts, materials, or spaces.
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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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10/10 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 STUDENT AWARD
NORDLYS
As students, we have found that competitions give us the opportunity to work on projects that we wouldn't encounter in the professional realm and to explore out-of-the-box solutions to common challenges. Competitions have been an excellent opportunity to share our ideas and see what other students and architects from around the world propose.
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Jury feedback summary
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
Order your review hereThis project stands out for its clarity and functional simplicity in plan, contrasted with its complex and varied form. The presentation effectively communicates the structural system in timber, with well-detailed illustrations that highlight its intricacies. The text is succinctly divided into digestible bits of information, making it easy to follow, while the sections and plans are enriched with vivid material colors, enhancing their descriptive quality. However, the project would benefit from additional annotations to better communicate the design and material intent. Including phrases or callouts in the rendered imagery and axonometrics would significantly enhance the understanding of the main concepts. These annotations would not only highlight the key aspects of the design but also provide a more comprehensive view of the project's innovative elements. Overall, while the project is commendable for its organization and presentation, incorporating more detailed annotations would elevate its clarity and effectiveness.
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7/10 Linework
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8/10 Quality of drawings
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8/10 Balance of color
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9/10 Layout
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6/10 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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8/10 Clarity of diagrams
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8/10 Quality of overall presentation
BUILDNER SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
Krafla Ski Snow Cabin
We have participated in a number of architectural competitions during the last two years. We believe they are an excellent way to challenge our skills and provide a vehicle to highlight our architectural approach to the issues that we have discussed above.
Read full interviewJury feedback summary
The Krafla Ski Snow Cabin is designed to reflect the contrasts of Iceland: the violent ocean against serene grasslands, rugged volcanic mountains capped with snow, and sinuous riverbeds. Key features include a large deck facing the ski slope, designed to mask the view of a nearby power station while providing unobstructed views of the northern lights. The building's layout offers a progression of privacy, from public rest areas with deck access to private changing rooms and service areas. A mezzanine with loungers provides a tranquil space for stargazing through rooflights. The cabin’s tessellated form mirrors the rugged elegance of Icelandic mountains, embedding it within the natural landscape while offering functional and inviting spaces for visitors.
This project has an energy strategy that leverages efficient ground site planning above with abundant below ground energy resources. The sustainability strategy is expressed in material, function and experience.
Tom Schroeder / Buildner guest jury
Patkau Architects , Canada
A thought-out adaptation with the body sitting well on the site facing its back to the power station to place an emphasis on nature. With a harmonious distribution, the warm core fireplace is inviting. The interior wood surfaces are curved and flat, making it a unique design concept for a ski cabin.
Borghildur Indriðadóttir / Buildner guest jury
Artist on the Moon, Iceland
A sImple but intriguing shape. Nice contrast working with dark and light wood, and inside-outside relationships. A compact plan with few but well-placed windows. It could have easily integrated PV panels on the roof.
Anne Cecilie Haug / Buildner guest jury
Senior Architect, Snøhetta, Norway
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
Order your review hereThe project benefits from extensive imagery from various perspectives and scales, clearly conveying the design intent. However, there are two main points of criticism. First, the text is lengthy, often using redundant phrases like "as described earlier." Simplifying and summarizing the text would make it more direct and effective. Second, the imagery, while beautiful, lacks sufficient annotation or detail. For instance, the final panel uses a single full-width and height image without supporting information. This can appear unfinished to jurors and misses an opportunity to highlight key material, programmatic, or formal design elements of the project. Enhancing the images with detailed annotations would significantly improve the presentation.
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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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8/10 Layout
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10/10 Hierarchy
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7/10 Annotation
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7/10 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
Honorable Mentions
Shortlisted projects
ICE-CUBE
United States The Long House
Laitila Architects
Finland Optical Earthform
United States The Red Beacon
Romania Mývatyn Ski Cabin
Australia Snowfire
Novel Terra
Netherlands TOBLERON_SKI
Technical University of Kaiserslautern , Technische Universität Kaiserslautern
+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
Germany Mjöll
Technische Universität München , The Technical University of Munich
+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
Germany Langhús
Germany The Passage
Spain Belvedere
Netherlands 
The visitor's retreat
Denmark SKIHOUSE
Bosnia MYVATN REFUGE
Poland 
The Linear Monolith
Italy FIRE CAMP
France NORDLYS
UNAM - National Autonomous University of Mexico (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)
+72 points Buildner University Rankings!
Mexico FÖNN - A Snowdrift In Mývatn
United States The crossing
France unFolding Mantle
Chile Ski Slope
United States The hearth
Italy Nordic Silver Shelter
Zurich University of Applied Sciences
+22 points Buildner University Rankings!
Switzerland Cold Cover
Germany Aurora Shelter
Italy 65 - 16 °
Italy SAGA
Slovenia A place for window-weather
United States Contrast
Romania Turf's legacy
Hungary Three Sod Houses
South Korea The Rising Basalt
Finland CELAS
Greece CROWN OF MYVATN
Turkey Skiers Sanctuary
Brazil 
Gateway to the Slopes
Switzerland Krafla Ski Snow Cabin
VOID STUDIOS ARCHITECTURE + RESEARCH
United Kingdom Warming Hut 01
Shaner & Co.
United States 
Nordlys redefines the ski cabin concept by merging the rustic charm of timber with modern glass elegance. Situated in Iceland's stunning landscapes, it fosters a meaningful connection with nature. Crafted from Icelandic wood, the intricate timber structure offers warmth and blends with the surroundings. The highlight is a glass-cube cozy room, providing visitors a breathtaking view of the Northern Lights. Elevated 1.5 meters to prevent snow blockages, the cabin's only exposed glass is in the cube, with other natural light sources ingeniously hidden by wooden lattices that blend with the wood cladding. The viewing deck faces north for clear views of the Northern Lights and ski slope. The project is divided into three key areas: a cozy area with a kitchenette and living room around a fireplace, a skiing preparation area with a changing room, ski rack, and refreshment area, and a rear ground-level area with a garage for the Snow Groomer and a small office for staff.