Organizer
Buildner Architecture Competitions, in partnership with Slow Travel Mývatn

Location
Lake Mývatn, Iceland

Deadline

• Final registration deadline: April 8, 2026
• Submission deadline: May 11, 2026 (23:59 London Time)
• Winners announcement: July 7, 2026

Competition Category
Architecture and space design (uniting sauna and greenhouse into a single structure)

Eligibility
Open to all (no professional qualification required, individual or team entries, max 4 team members)

Entry Fee
Varies by registration period:

• Early Bird: €110 (full award)/€70 (no monetary award)
• Advance: €120 (full award)/€80 (no monetary award)
• Last Minute: €140 (full award)/€100 (no monetary award)
  Student discounts available

Prizes/Awards

• Total prize fund €10,000: 1st Prize €5,000, 2nd Prize €2,500, 3rd Prize €1,000
• 6 Honorable Mentions
• Buildner Student Award €1,000
• Buildner Sustainability Award €500
• Publication on Buildner website (1M+ annual visitors) and ArchDaily
• Interview and movie opportunities for winners

Core Introduction
The Iceland Slow Sauna Architecture Competition invites architects to design a single structure that unites a sauna and a greenhouse, exploring how transitions between hot and cool, enclosed and open, dark and bright can become a unique experiential journey . Originating from Óli and Bianca's Slow Travel Mývatn philosophy emphasizing slowness, authenticity and care for the land, it seeks proposals reflecting their way of life — spaces that are thoughtful, tactile and attuned to both human presence and the Icelandic landscape . Set in the volcanic landscape of Lake Mývatn with steam vents, moss and silence, the competition calls for architecture that designs a ritual of renewal, creating rhythms between heat, light and silence .