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Black-Clad Meditation Cabin With Lofted Sleeping Space and Wooden Interiors

Author:
Will Quintana
Black-Clad Meditation Cabin With Lofted Sleeping Space and Wooden Interiors

Project in-detail

The black-clad cabin, supported by an A-frame structure and featuring a lofted sleeping area, offers a functional retreat for meditation while integrating seamlessly into its natural surroundings.
5 key facts about this project
01
The cabin features a lofted sleeping area accessible by a ladder, optimizing floor space.
02
An A-frame design allows for structural stability while adapting to uneven terrain.
03
Black cladding reduces visual impact, blending the structure into its natural surroundings.
04
Warm wooden finishes create a calming interior atmosphere, enhancing user comfort.
05
The compact layout includes a bathroom and kitchen connected by a shared wet wall for efficiency.

The Silent Cabins project is a thoughtful response to the desire for a meditative space within a natural setting. It focuses on creating a structure that minimizes environmental impact while ensuring comfort for its occupants. The design efficiently combines areas for meditation with essential living functions, making it suitable for reflection and a peaceful retreat from everyday life.

Structural Design

The cabin achieves stability through a foundation that holds a dry toilet tank, combined with an 'A' frame at one end to accommodate the uneven site. This method minimizes disturbance to the surrounding land and allows the structure to blend into the environment. The overall shape is low, helping the cabin stay understated, which reflects a commitment to environmental responsibility.

Interior Layout

Inside, the space is divided into specific areas. One section is dedicated entirely to meditation, supporting focus and tranquility. Other parts of the cabin are designated for daily activities, showing a clear intention in the layout. A loft for sleeping is accessible by a ladder in the entrance, which makes efficient use of vertical space. This design choice keeps most of the floor open for communal use, allowing for interaction and comfort.

Material Choices

The interiors feature warm wood finishes that help create a cozy atmosphere, enhanced by indirect light from a fireplace. This choice promotes a sense of relaxation and aligns with the project’s eco-friendly goals by using natural materials. On the outside, the cabin is covered in black cladding, which helps with energy conservation and allows it to blend into its surroundings. This thoughtful exterior design reduces visual impact on the landscape.

Design Details

Silent Cabins pays careful attention to detail in its design. The features inside and outside work together to foster a calm and inviting environment. The skillful use of light, texture, and space emphasizes the project's aim to provide a retreat that encourages a connection with nature. This consideration of both function and comfort results in a space that feels both welcoming and peaceful.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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