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Cobbled Retreat Featuring Natural Wood Cabins for Mindful Reflection

Author:
Katie Vasbinder
Cobbled Retreat Featuring Natural Wood Cabins for Mindful Reflection

Project in-detail

With a foundation of native cobblestone and a design centered around natural wood cabins, this retreat promotes mindfulness and self-discovery through a thoughtfully integrated meditation garden.
5 key facts about this project
01
Native cobblestone pathways enhance the connection to the landscape.
02
Modular cabins allow for easy transport and flexible site placement.
03
Greywater systems irrigate surrounding gardens, prioritizing sustainability.
04
A central meditation garden features a solar-powered water fountain.
05
Private sitting pods defined by climbing vines offer secluded reflection areas.

A Lotus in the Mountain is an architectural design that integrates modular cabins into the surrounding landscape, representing the values of the lotus flower as a symbol of growth and light. The project is set in a peaceful location intended for meditation and self-exploration, creating a calm environment for visitors. The design focuses on simplicity and sustainability, promoting spaces that encourage introspection and mindfulness.

Meditation Garden

The heart of the design is a meditation garden featuring a pathway made of native cobblestones. This garden serves as a central point, inviting people to gather and reflect. It includes a solar-powered water fountain and fire feature, which enhance the sensory experience. The arrangement of plants and pathways is meant to create a peaceful atmosphere, framed by views of the valley that invite contemplation.

Cabin Design

The cabins are built to be modular, allowing for easy transport and flexibility in placement. They rest on a minimal foundation supported by four posts, which reduces their impact on the ground. Each cabin incorporates a grey water system that uses runoff water to irrigate nearby vegetation, emphasizing a commitment to environmental sustainability.

Interior Spaces

Inside the cabins, natural wood flooring pairs with soft white walls and exposed wood framing to create a soothing environment. The design includes practical features such as storage for massage equipment and small stoves, placed in ways that keep the focus on the surrounding views. This setup allows occupants to connect with nature from within the structure.

Landscape Integration

The site includes stepping stone paths and hammock areas that encourage exploration and interaction with the landscape. Secluded sitting pods are formed by climbing vines, providing quiet spaces for deeper thought. This layout and design of the garden and cabins work together to create a space that is tranquil and welcoming.

The overall concept invites people to engage with their surroundings and themselves. Every design detail supports a connection to the environment, fostering a sense of calm and reflection in a natural setting.

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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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