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A Creative Housing Prototype with Floating Cabin Concept

Authors:
Shutian Wang, Xuefei Tian, Junyi Zhao
A Creative Housing Prototype with Floating Cabin Concept
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The proposal explores a residential environment designed to balance private creative work with communal interaction in a natural landscape. It considers spatial organization, modular adaptability, and material strategies as methods for supporting both solitude and social engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with charred wooden shingles, enhancing durability and aesthetic appeal.
02
Modular cabin design allows for seasonal reconfiguration based on resident needs.
03
Utilizes cross-laminated timber panels for improved structural efficiency and insulation.
04
Emphasizes a bent A-frame design to maximize interior space and natural light.
05
Integrates natural barriers to create intimate spaces within the larger landscape.

Floatage is a conceptual proposal for a residential retreat in Latvia, developed to support writers and artists seeking both solitude and opportunities for community interaction. The study envisions modular living units, described as poet’s cabins, dispersed across a natural landscape in a configuration reminiscent of boats floating on water. The program is organized around a central communal hub for shared activities, complemented by individual cabins that provide spaces for creative retreat and reflection.

Spatial Strategy
The design balances collective and individual needs by situating the communal gathering space at the center, with cabins distributed outward to form a network of private and semi-public zones. Cabins are conceived as mobile units, allowing residents to reposition them in response to seasonal conditions or desired proximity to others. Variations in cabin size accommodate both individual residents and small groups, with terraces and outdoor spaces extending opportunities for interaction with the landscape. Natural barriers such as trees and hedges are integrated to ensure privacy while maintaining a sense of openness.

Materiality and Construction
Timber is proposed as the primary material, emphasizing connections to local craftsmanship and ecological practices. Extensive glazing enhances daylight and views, while sliding doors create fluid transitions between interior and exterior spaces. Steel elements are incorporated to enable the mobility of the cabins and to reinforce structural stability.

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The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

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Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
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Final registration deadline 30 October 2025

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