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Charred Wood Structures Integrated Within a Biodiverse Landscape for Mindful Retreats

Author:
Boris HILDERAL
Charred Wood Structures Integrated Within a Biodiverse Landscape for Mindful Retreats

Project in-detail

Constructed with charred wood and integrated into a diverse landscape, the meditation camp promotes mindfulness and community engagement while emphasizing sustainable practices.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with locally sourced charred wood for durability and aesthetic appeal.
02
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels to enhance structural performance and sustainability.
03
Design features a bent A-frame structure that promotes natural ventilation and light.
04
Surrounds an ecological landscape designed to support local biodiversity and outdoor engagement.
05
Offers multifunctional communal spaces for mindfulness and community interaction.

### Overview
Located in the tranquil countryside of Latvia, the Stone Barn Meditation Camp is designed as a sanctuary for individuals seeking tranquility, mindfulness, and a connection to nature. This facility emphasizes eco-tourism, encouraging visitors to engage with the environment while fostering community involvement and sustainable practices.

### Architectural Characteristics and Spatial Strategy
The camp consists of communal and private spaces organized within a framework of sustainable micro-architecture. Key structures include a meditation center, sleeping sheds, and communal gathering areas, each built using local materials to complement the restored landscape. Pathways interlink these spaces, promoting exploration and interaction with the natural surroundings. The meditation center features a flexible design that accommodates personal and group practices, while its configuration respects the original architecture with contemporary modifications that facilitate natural ventilation and energy efficiency.

### Materiality and Sustainability
The choice of materials reflects local traditions and sustainability objectives. Stone provides thermal mass for temperature regulation; wood is employed in both aesthetics and resilience; glass is integrated to enhance natural light and visual connections to the outdoors. Straw serves as insulation to improve energy efficiency, while earth and metal are used structurally to minimize environmental impact and enhance durability. These materials work together in a way that supports both comfort and ecological integrity, aligning with the camp's commitment to sustainability.

### Community Integration and Landscape Features
More than just a collection of buildings, the camp functions as a cohesive community designed to enrich interactions between visitors and locals. The surrounding gardens, walking paths, and communal spaces facilitate social engagement and enhance the experience of meditation. Unique design elements, such as “vibrational architecture,” aim to align the built environment with human emotional frequencies, further enriching the spiritual experiences offered at the camp. Ecological landscaping incorporates local biodiversity, underscoring the project's dedication to ecological stability while fostering a harmonious relationship between architecture and the natural landscape.

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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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