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Forest Wellness Retreat with Elevated Timber Cabins

Authors:
Ruben Giannini, Toby Pullen
Forest Wellness Retreat with Elevated Timber Cabins

Project in-detail

Rooted in sustainability and simplicity, the project is a carefully crafted wellness retreat, designed to support yoga practice, meditation, and deep connection with nature. The architecture integrates seamlessly into the forested landscape while offering a peaceful, restorative environment for both individual reflection and communal experience.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with locally sourced charred wooden shingles to enhance durability and aesthetic appeal.
02
Features a bent A-frame design that accommodates large interior spaces while minimizing material use.
03
Elevated structure preserves the existing landscape, allowing for unimpeded natural flow beneath the building.
04
Utilizes cross-laminated timber panels for efficient construction and structural stability.
05
Incorporates expansive curtain-wall windows to maximize natural light and connection with the forest.

Designed as more than just a place to stay, the forest retreat offers an immersive experience where architecture becomes a subtle companion to nature—supporting physical, emotional, and communal health. The layout is designed to balance solitude and connection. Elevated timber walkways link the structures, guiding movement through the site without disturbing the natural ground cover. It demonstrates how built environments can foster inner calm while treading lightly on the earth.

Technically, the project is defined by its exclusive use of locally sourced timber, minimizing environmental impact and reinforcing a strong sense of place. The buildings feature lapped timber roofs and robust cladding, offering durability in Latvia’s climate while echoing traditional architectural forms. The structures are slightly elevated to preserve the forest floor and existing vegetation, allowing architecture and landscape to coexist with minimal intrusion. The yoga house, carefully oriented to capture natural light and open views into the forest canopy. This building serves as a spiritual and spatial anchor, providing a serene setting for guided sessions and quiet practice.

What sets the haven apart is its honest, nature-first approach. Pure luxury in favor of grounded simplicity, the design prioritizes authenticity, ecological sensitivity, and the emotional needs of its users. It’s a retreat where architecture recedes into the forest—quiet, purposeful, and profoundly humane.

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

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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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