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Cave-Like Retreat Featuring Stone and Bamboo for Mindful Meditation

Authors:
Matthew todd Winget, Cihan Johnson, Hana Karrar
Cave-Like Retreat Featuring Stone and Bamboo for Mindful Meditation

Project in-detail

Combining stone and bamboo in a cave-like structure, the retreat fosters a tranquil environment for meditation, promoting deep reflection through its thoughtfully designed spaces.
5 key facts about this project
01
Design emphasizes a gradual transition from private space to open areas.
02
Features a cave-like entrance that aids mental preparation for meditation.
03
Incorporates bamboo as a primary element to enhance tranquility.
04
Includes reflecting pools to promote serenity and deepen user experience.
05
Utilizes natural materials to maintain harmony with the surrounding landscape.

The VALE DE MOSES MEDITATION CABINS are located in Portugal and designed to facilitate introspection and calm. The project emphasizes the meditative journey by creating spaces that transition from private to open environments. Careful attention in the design encourages users to engage deeply with both themselves and their natural surroundings.

Design Concept

A private entrance serves as the initial aspect of the cabin, providing a secluded area that includes storage and a sink. This feature creates a cave-like atmosphere, helping users prepare mentally for meditation. The layout shifts focus from outside distractions, making it easier for individuals to concentrate on their inner experience.



Meditation Space

As users move further into the cabin, they encounter a semi-open meditation area. This space utilizes wood and glass, allowing in natural light while promoting a connection to the landscape. The integration of indoor and outdoor experiences enhances the user's interaction with nature during meditation, creating a harmonious environment for reflection.



Outdoor Porch

The cabin culminates in an outdoor porch, which provides a light and airy space for relaxation. This area incorporates bamboo, adding a sense of tranquility. The choice of materials in this section reinforces the themes of mindfulness and connection to nature, enhancing the overall experience for users.



Site Flexibility

The arrangement of the cabins allows for flexibility in their placement. They can be positioned individually across the retreat or clustered together with reflecting pools in between. This design approach ensures each cabin retains its unique identity while promoting a varied experience for users. The thoughtful layout responds to the site's natural features and climate, creating a consistent link with the environment.



Natural materials such as stone at the entrance and bamboo in the outdoor areas highlight the careful balance between function and design. Each element contributes to an atmosphere designed for reflection, allowing users to engage fully with both the space and their surroundings.

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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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