Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Compressed Tea Leaves and Stacked Lumber in a Forest Retreat

Author:
Craig Nener
Compressed Tea Leaves and Stacked Lumber in a Forest Retreat

Project in-detail

Built with stacked lumber and featuring flooring made from compressed tea leaves, the cabins create a unique retreat that encourages meditation and connection to the surrounding forest environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Cabins are constructed using stacked lumber for structural strength.
02
Flooring is made from compressed tea leaves, enhancing sensory experience.
03
Double-glazed walls optimize light while maintaining energy efficiency.
04
Vertical pine boards improve acoustics and tactile connection with nature.
05
Solar lights illuminate pathways, ensuring safety and environmental harmony.

The OZOLINI CABINS project is located in a peaceful forest of pines, designed as a retreat for meditation and reflection. It combines simple forms with practical functions, inspired by the basic structures of early human dwellings. Each cabin offers a space for individuals to connect with themselves and their environment, promoting a sense of calm and well-being.

Design Concept

The design centers around creating a close relationship between the cabins and their natural surroundings. Each cabin features thoughtfully arranged spaces that support activities such as meditation, prayer, reading, and gathering with others. This layout invites occupants to engage deeply with nature, encouraging introspection and community interaction.

Materiality

Material choices emphasize the connection to the natural world. The cabins are built using stacked lumber for structural support, arranged carefully to maintain spatial efficiency while blending with the landscape. Flooring made from compressed tea leaves bonded with natural resin offers not only a tactile connection to the earth but also a pleasant aroma that enhances the meditation experience.

Inside, vertical pine boards line the walls, improving sound quality and reinforcing the cabins' connection to the environment. Above a height of 2.1 meters, double-glazed walls allow ample light to fill the cabins while providing expansive views of the forest. This design feature ensures comfort in varying weather conditions while maintaining a strong link to the outdoors.

Nighttime Presence

As evening falls, the cabins become warm sources of light in the darkened woods. The interaction of light and shadow creates a welcoming environment. Gathering around the central campfire encourages shared experiences, while solar lights mark pathways to guide guests safely through the surroundings.

The careful framing of views and the inviting textures of materials work together to establish a strong sense of place. Occupants feel anchored in the setting, surrounded by nature and open sky.

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

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

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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