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Samatha Yoga House: a Sustainable Retreat for Mindfulness in Latvia

Authors:
David Afonso, Valdomiro Ceolin, Paulo César, Luis Fernandes
Samatha Yoga House: a Sustainable Retreat for Mindfulness in Latvia

Project in-detail

The design merges sustainable materials with an open layout, creating a dedicated space for yoga and meditation immersed in nature.
5 key facts about this project
01
Integrates sustainable materials with natural surroundings.
02
Employs a bent A-frame structure.
03
Features cross-laminated timber and charred timber shingles.
04
Includes high-ceilinged living and yoga hall.
05
Incorporates patios extending interior into the landscape.

Samatha Yoga House integrates sustainable materials with a form that responds to its natural setting. Located in Latvia, the project employs a bent A-frame structure with cross-laminated timber panels and charred timber shingles, which provide durability and visual continuity with the surrounding forest.

Spatial Layout and Connection to Nature

The plan combines communal and private areas to accommodate group practice and individual reflection. A high-ceilinged living and yoga hall forms the central space, benefiting from natural light and ventilation. The open-plan kitchen supports shared use, while private rooms offer areas for rest and meditation. Patios extend the interior into the landscape, emphasizing the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Material Strategy and Construction

Triple-glazed windows improve thermal efficiency while opening views to the surroundings. Cross-laminated timber provides structural stability and a warm interior atmosphere, while the charred timber exterior ensures durability and low maintenance. Prefabricated components reduce on-site waste, and the distinctive wooden arches create a clear structural rhythm between indoor and outdoor spaces.

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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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