Introduction
This international competition challenged architects, designers, and visionaries to create a conceptual observation platform at Norway’s iconic Trolltunga (Troll’s Tongue) cliff. Participants were invited to design a structure that enhances the visitor experience while respecting the dramatic natural landscape. The goal was to balance innovation, sustainability, and minimal environmental impact, ensuring the platform integrates seamlessly with its surroundings while providing an unforgettable spatial and visual experience.
Entrants were encouraged to explore creative approaches to materiality, construction techniques, and structural ingenuity, with particular attention to safety, durability, and weather resilience. The competition sought designs that elevate the experience of standing at the edge of this striking rock formation, allowing visitors to engage with the awe-inspiring views in new and meaningful ways.
Buildner collaborated with an esteemed international jury to evaluate the submissions and review each proposal to assess originality, feasibility, and sensitivity to the landscape: Anne Cecilie Haug of Snohetta; Nancy Beka of Studio Edwards; Samista Jugwanth of Zutari; Rok Oman of OFIS; Euan Millar of Icosis; Lera Samovich of Fala Arquitectos; Rafał Sieraczyński of RYSY Architekci; Jan Vondrák of Mjölk; and Ondřej Zámečník.
Buildner and its jury extend their gratitude to all participants for their contributions and congratulate the winners on their inspiring designs!
We sincerely thank our jury panel
for their time and expertise
Anne Cecilie Haug
Senior Architect, Snøhetta
Norway
Nancy Beka
architectural designer and co-director of Studio Edwards
Australia
Samista Jugwanth
Technical director
Zutari
Rok Oman
OFIS Architects
Slovenia
Euan Millar
Cofounder, Icosis Architects
Scotland
Lera Samovich
Fala Atelier
Portugal
Rafał Sieraczyński
RYSY Architekci
Poland
Jan Vondrák
Mjölk
Czechia
Ondřej Zámečník
m.aus architects
Czech Republic
1st Prize Winner +
Buildner Student Award +
Buildner Sustainability Award
Buildner Student Award +
Buildner Sustainability Award
Suspended Cave
I decided to participate in architecture competitions because they provide an effective way to gain practical experience in the professional field while still being a student
Read full interview
Italy
Jury feedback summary
Suspended Cave is a viewing platform designed to harmonize with its rugged natural surroundings. Positioned on a rocky outcrop, it aims to provide an immersive experience by combining the sensation of suspension with shelter. The platform is engineered to preserve the site’s visual integrity, minimizing environmental impact while offering panoramic views of the landscape.
The proposal maintains the existing form of Trolltunga. The use of minimal materials and the location of the structure preserves the prominence of the existing rock formation. As the author writes in the text, he lets the mountain remain the main protagonist.
Ondřej Zámečník / Buildner guest jury
m.aus architects, Czech Republic
Great idea and placement but lacks a little finesse in design.
Anne Cecilie Haug / Buildner guest jury
Senior Architect, Snøhetta, Norway
The project is simple and nearly invisible, respectfully leaving the top untouched.
Lera Samovich / Buildner guest jury
Fala Atelier, Portugal
This is an elegant proposal for a simple staircase to a viewing platform located beneath the outcrop and would likely be a relatively economical method of facilitating visitors via a low-key sustainable solution. Beautifully illustrated.
Euan Millar / Buildner guest jury
Cofounder, Icosis Architects, Scotland
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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This project does a commendable job of organizing images with a clear hierarchy. However, the presentation would benefit from greater color variation to add vibrancy and differentiate elements more effectively. Including additional architectural details would help solidify it as a more fully realized project. Most critically, the images require annotations to explain materials, concepts, and key ideas, providing viewers with a clearer understanding of the design’s purpose and execution.
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8/10 Linework
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9/10 Quality of drawings
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7/10 Balance of color
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8/10 Layout
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8/10 Hierarchy
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5/10 Annotation
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7/10 Text
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8/10 Clarity of story
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7/10 Clarity of diagrams
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7/10 Quality of overall presentation
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2nd Prize Winner
HORIZN - Beyond the Edge
Competitions serve as a platform for us to explore fresh ideas, challenge ourselves, and experiment with cutting-edge design concepts. They grant us the freedom to think creatively and approach problems in unconventional ways, which fosters a culture of innovation within our team. This environment also enables us to continuously refine our skills as we engage with diverse design briefs and problem-solving scenarios, offering a sense of growth and development. Moreover, competitions provide an opportunity to inspire others and, in turn, increase our visibility and recognition within the architectural community and beyond. This exposure can significantly enhance our presence and reputation, amplifying our impact on the field. In essence, participating in architecture competitions resonates with our commitment to innovation, collaboration, social responsibility, and historical preservation. It empowers us to stretch the boundaries of our creativity, advance professionally, expand our professional network, gain acknowledgment, and contribute positively to our society.
Read full interview
Romania
Jury feedback summary
Horizn: Beyond the Edge is a cantilevered observation platform designed to enhance the visitor's experience of the surrounding natural landscape. The project emphasizes modular construction, utilizing prefabricated steel and tempered glass elements for easy assembly and minimal environmental impact. Positioned on an existing cliff, the platform seamlessly integrates with the terrain, offering unobstructed panoramic views.
The project features precise, yet abstract geometry paired with a modular approach and simple materiality. This results in a solution that is both sharp in design and practical in its potential execution.
Lera Samovich / Buildner guest jury
Fala Atelier, Portugal
I like that this design provides more usable space for a walking route and also provides more viewing angles. I also appreciate the thought to protect the natural rock, as well as the safety precautions. This design uses a false bottom to preserve the rock below and the transparancy of the design causes it to merge into the environment.
Samista Jugwanth / Buildner guest jury
Technical director, Zutari
The glass platform above and walkway below offers a sensitive solution aiming to respect the original feature, though there are concerns about the choice of glass and its longterm durability. Should the walkway be semicircular, or better to follow the natural form of the rock?
Euan Millar / Buildner guest jury
Cofounder, Icosis Architects, Scotland
A delicate a beautiful form, however the proximity to the underside of the hanging cliff a little too close.
Nancy Beka / Buildner guest jury
architectural designer and co-director of Studio Edwards, Australia
The ring underneath is strong but the platform on top weakens the concept.
Anne Cecilie Haug / Buildner guest jury
Senior Architect, Snøhetta, Norway
A decent lower footbridge that lets the existing rock formation stand out. The structure on the upper side of Trolltunga is no longer necessary.
Ondřej Zámečník / Buildner guest jury
m.aus architects, Czech Republic
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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This project excels at presenting images with a clear hierarchy and a balanced mix of color, drawings, and information. The use of a single large image with subtle color accents adds a sense of dynamism and draws attention effectively. Supporting perspectives provide valuable insight into the project’s spatial experience at a human scale, while detailed line drawings illustrate materials, elements, and connections, reinforcing the concept’s thoughtful design and constructive intentions.
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9/10 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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8/10 Annotation
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7/10 Text
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8/10 Clarity of story
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7/10 Clarity of diagrams
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8/10 Quality of overall presentation
3rd Prize Winner
The Trolls Catcher
Architecture competitions offer a great opportunity to experiment and grow. When we came across the Troll’s Tongue Observation Platform competition, we were excited to participate and explore the theme, along with the questions it raised for us.
Read full interview
Austria
Jury feedback summary
The Trolls Catcher is a minimal-intervention viewing platform designed to seamlessly integrate with the existing natural rock formation. Anchored with tension ropes and steel plates, the structure features a safety net suspended 100 meters above the ground, offering visitors a unique and thrilling experience. The lightweight design minimizes physical and visual impact on the landscape, ensuring harmony with the surroundings.
A minimalist design that offers a delicate intervention into the natural landscape, providing both aesthetic and practical solutions. The use of eco-friendly materials and subtle integration into the terrain highlight this project as an example of modern architecture in harmony with nature. True minimalism and aesthetics.
Rafał Sieraczyński / Buildner guest jury
RYSY Architekci, Poland
I'm not certain this is the best design, but it does provoke thought about safety at landmarks like Trolltunga. Its danger is a big draw. What if we eliminate that risk? Would making everything safe increase visitors but lessen the thrill?". Travel should be more than just photos. I wonder about other uses for the net below the rock formation. Could it become a new spot for visitors to explore, not just a safety feature?
Jan Vondrák / Buildner guest jury
Mjölk , Czechia
An elegant solution for safety purposes, though perhaps an intervention regularly seen on ski slopes, no additional visitor platform and arguably lacking a 'wow factor'.
Euan Millar / Buildner guest jury
Cofounder, Icosis Architects, Scotland
Very interesting questions asked!
Anne Cecilie Haug / Buildner guest jury
Senior Architect, Snøhetta, Norway
It appears the net structure needs to be twice the size to allow visitors to feel secure.
Nancy Beka / Buildner guest jury
architectural designer and co-director of Studio Edwards, Australia
The right approach, well described issues thanks to the right questions. I commend the minimum material used, however, the proposal consists only of fall protection.
Ondřej Zámečník / Buildner guest jury
m.aus architects, Czech Republic
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
Order your review here
The project’s striking primary image effectively captures the cliff-edge observation point’s form, materials, and structure. The aerial perspective, paired with dramatic shadows, adds depth and visual impact. The text is overly long and lacks clear organization, making it difficult to navigate, and the author would benefit from larger fonts and subtitles to highlight key ideas.
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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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8/10 Layout
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7/10 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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7/10 Clarity of diagrams
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7/10 Quality of overall presentation
Honorable mentions
Shortlisted projects
Over the Trolltunga tip
Poland Bridge to the sky
Trolltunga Observation Platform
The Ring
BIFROST
Trolltunga Vista
Trollmunn
Trolltunga
EDGE OF REMEMBRANCE
The Trolls Catcher
Lysveil
Trolltunga Reframed
Trolls Braces
HORIZN - Beyond the Edge
The Ring
PEEK A BOO
aura
BELLY OF THE BEAST
Suspended Cave
Landing at Trolltunga
GATE TO VALHALLA
Troll's Cairn
BETWEEN FRAME AND VIEW - Observation platform for Trolltunga
W-EDGE
Ring of Trolltunga
HIMLENS DRAKKAR
zigzag
