Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Climate-Responsive Cabin Featuring Nanotechnology and Antibacterial Materials for Urban Meditation

Author:
Francesca Di Giacomo
Climate-Responsive Cabin Featuring Nanotechnology and Antibacterial Materials for Urban Meditation
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed with antibacterial aluminum oxide and a unique climate-responsive lining, the meditation cabin offers urban dwellers a dedicated space for mindfulness practice amid the bustling environment of Tokyo.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with antibacterial aluminum oxide for enhanced hygiene.
02
Features a climate-responsive lining to regulate temperature.
03
Includes a dedicated pet waiting area with food and water.
04
Equipped with an internal screen for guided meditation sessions.
05
Combines Japanese cultural motifs with a contemporary urban design.

Ze-Cabin is a multifunctional meditation cabin designed for urban environments, particularly in Tokyo, Japan. The purpose of the cabin is to provide a tranquil space where city residents can step away from the stress of daily life and engage in mindfulness practices. The design concept combines elements from traditional Japanese culture with the natural landscape, creating an inviting retreat within a bustling city.

Design Inspiration

The overall form of Ze-Cabin is influenced by Japan’s landscape, especially the calming images of volcano mountains. This connection to nature is reflected in the design, which aims to instill a sense of peace and safety. Inside, the layout is organized to mimic the feeling of being contained, similar to the comfort of a womb. This intimate spatial arrangement allows users to concentrate fully during their meditation sessions.

Material Characteristics

In constructing Ze-Cabin, advanced materials that are antibacterial and antiviral are used to ensure cleanliness in a public setting. The cabin's structure is primarily made from treated aluminum oxide, a durable material that is patented in Japan. This material offers strong resistance to corrosion and effective heat management. Such choices make the cabin not only functional but also long-lasting in the urban landscape.

User-Centric Features

Ze-Cabin includes various features to enhance the experience for all users. The installation has a sound and light system designed to support meditation by creating a calming atmosphere. The internal screen serves multiple purposes; it displays information about guided meditation sessions and yoga practices. The design also accounts for users with disabilities, providing Braille displays and audio guidance. Additionally, a waiting area for pets, equipped with food and water, ensures that pet owners can also enjoy the space.

Technological Integration

The cabin serves as more than just a meditation area; it acts as a useful resource for city residents. A screen on the front provides important information about local attractions and city maps. On the back, an advertisement display offers potential economic benefits to the surrounding area. This functional integration helps meet the needs of urban inhabitants while contributing to the local community.

The interior of Ze-Cabin features a climate-responsive lining made from a combination of cotton and wool mixed with synthetic fibers. This setup helps regulate temperature and keeps the environment comfortable for users engaging in meditation, further enhancing the overall experience within the cabin.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
100,000€ Prize / 2026

The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

`
Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025

Open architecture competitions

  • Closest deadline first
  • Project competitions first
    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
new
The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025
new
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 26 November 2025
Concrete 
Pavilion

Design a concrete pavilion

Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025
new
Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 21 January 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

new
The Home of 
Shadows

Design a home with no artificial lighting

The light studies. Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility OPEN TO ALL
Early bird registration deadline 5 November 2025
The Last 
Nuclear Bomb Memorial

Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

Edition #6 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 13 November 2025
new
The Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 20 November 2025
Hospice - 
Home for the 
Terminally ill

Design a safe and supportive space to those struggling with a terminal illness

Edition #5 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 10,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 26 November 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 26 November 2025
Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #7 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025
Re:Form - 
New Life 
for Old Spaces

Choose a site—used, abandoned, or forgotten—anywhere in the world, and give it a new purpose

Edition #2 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 3 December 2025
The Architect’s 
Stair

Take a step and make a statement!

Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 15 January 2026
new
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2026 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 26 February 2026

Media, partners and clients

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