Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Cardboard Tubes and Wooden Columns Form a Compact Retreat for Solitude

Authors:
Jiashu Song, Kuan-yi Chiang, Tianyu Zhang, Boxu Zeng
Cardboard Tubes and Wooden Columns Form a Compact Retreat for Solitude

Project in-detail

Utilizing cardboard tubes and wooden columns, the design creates a compact and sustainable living space that encourages solitude and reflection in a serene forest environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes cardboard tubes for walls and ceiling, enhancing insulation and reducing weight.
02
Features a zigzag structure that regulates thermal comfort effectively.
03
Incorporates vertical organization to minimize environmental footprint.
04
Designed for easy assembly and disassembly, promoting adaptability.
05
Provides designated zones for meditation and living within a compact layout.

The Silent Meditation Forests Cabin offers a contemporary approach to sustainable living in a quiet forest setting. Designed for one person, the cabin focuses on creating a compact and efficient space that emphasizes a connection to the surrounding nature. The design concept seeks to blend functionality with serenity, reflecting the needs of someone seeking solitude and reflection.

Vertical Organization of Space

The design makes effective use of vertical space to keep the cabin's footprint small. Living areas are located on the upper levels, offering privacy and a sense of elevation, while common spaces like the kitchen, dining area, and dry toilet occupy the lower sections. This layering of functions promotes accessibility throughout the cabin and enhances the overall flow between areas.

Sustainable Use of Materials

Materials used in the cabin have been carefully selected for their practical and sustainable qualities. Cardboard tubes serve as walls and ceilings, taking advantage of their insulating properties to help maintain a comfortable temperature inside. The zigzag shape of these tubes and the gap in their structure support temperature control while keeping the overall weight light. This material choice highlights a commitment to environmental responsibility without sacrificing performance.

Integration with the Natural Environment

The design takes into account the surrounding natural light and seasonal changes. Orientation has been carefully considered to maximize daylight throughout the space. Diagrams showcasing seasonal vegetation emphasize the diversity of plant life surrounding the cabin and illustrate the connection to the environment. Overall, this aspect of the design invites an immersive experience with nature, aligning the space closely with its setting.

Structural Integrity and Aesthetics

Wooden columns form the main support structure, providing stability while adding visual warmth to the interior. This choice of material reflects an economical approach that aligns with eco-friendly building practices. The combination of materials works together to create a tactile and engaging experience, allowing those within the space to appreciate both function and form.

Light plays through the cardboard structure, creating patterns that shift with the sun. This movement enriches the meditative quality of the cabin, enhancing moments of reflection within its walls.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

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

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy