In the recent Iceland beer spa architecture competition organized by Buildner, graduate students Nathan Ehrlich, Alexandro Piña, and Yao Xiao, all M.Arch. ’26 candidates from Rice University School of Architecture, emerged as winners of the student award. Their entry, “Out of the Ground,” impressed the jury with its provocative design that integrates a brewery, cafe snack bar, souvenir shop, and beer spa in a building on the grounds of the Sel Hotel in Iceland.
The competition brief asked architects and designers to showcase their creativity and innovation by proposing a new facility that combines a diverse set of hospitality and wellness programs on the grounds of the Sel Hotel, a family-run establishment next to the legendary Skútustaðagígar craters in the Mývatn Lake region of Iceland. The competition seeks to create a landmark destination that reflects the region’s spirit and provides an unforgettable experience for tourists and locals.
The jury noted that the “inverse geometries of the roof are carved from the facades to offer views of the landscape,” feedback that echoes the students’ aim to establish therapeutic spaces that “directly draw connections to the existing conditions of the site and the Mývatn Lake area.”
Ehrlich, Piña, and Xiao expressed their enthusiasm for architectural competitions, noting that these opportunities allow them to showcase their creativity and explore their interests outside the formal studio setting. Their success in this competition highlights their talent and dedication to innovative design. Congratulations to the team!
Read more about their proposal on the competition website.