Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Copper-Cube Cabins Embracing Rainwater and Nature for Wellness Retreat

Authors:
Joseph Crites, Lawrence Mathis, Matt Winget, Jane Wilson-crites
Copper-Cube Cabins Embracing Rainwater and Nature for Wellness Retreat
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Crafted from a copper cube and designed to collect rainwater, the harmonious meditation cabins and grotto create an immersive retreat focused on wellness and connection to nature.
5 key facts about this project
01
Meditation cabins use a copper cube structure for enhanced energy efficiency.
02
Rainwater collection from roofs supports sustainable water use.
03
Grotto features multiple wellness spaces, including a sauna and treatment rooms.
04
Design respects local vernacular architecture, integrating with the landscape.
05
Reclaimed materials reduce environmental impact and resource consumption.

The design combines meditation cabins with a meditation grotto, set among a natural landscape that encourages calm and connection. The project features a mix of small, lightweight structures and a more solid grotto, creating a balance between delicate and grounded elements. The intention is to promote a space where visitors can reflect and engage with their surroundings, facilitating both personal and communal experiences.

Meditation Cabins

The meditation cabins are simple in shape, featuring a straightforward rectangular form. A large porch greets guests, offering a space where they can transition into a meditative mindset. Inside, a climate-controlled therapy room, enclosed in a copper cube, provides views and necessary storage, enhancing the overall therapy experience. This arrangement allows for distinct areas while keeping the design unified and cohesive.

Materials and Sustainability

Sustainability is a key focus in the design, highlighted by the choice of materials. Reclaimed wood, recycled steel, recycled copper skin, bamboo, and cork are used throughout the project. These materials serve not only practical functions but also contribute to reducing environmental impact by using resources that limit new material extraction. The careful selection aligns with current practices in sustainable building design.

Meditation Grotto

The meditation grotto is located on an elevated part of the site, acting as a central space for community activities. Its roof terrace serves multiple purposes: hosting events, Tai Chi practices, and providing views of the valley. Rainwater is collected on the terrace, which can be used again, emphasizing thoughtful resource management. Inside, the grotto contains various rooms, including spaces for treatment and meditation, accommodating different wellness activities while also respecting the surrounding architecture.

Design Details

The cabin roofs include photovoltaic cells to enhance energy efficiency, and drainage systems channel rainwater to an underground cistern. These features add to a design that prioritizes not only functionality but also its connection to nature. Overall, the project encourages visitors to reflect and engage with their environment, offering a rich experience that balances community and solitude. The arrangement of spaces facilitates movement, guiding users naturally between shared and private moments.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

`
Competition organisers

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

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

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 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

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 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
Early bird registration deadline 15 October 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 October 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

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

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025
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
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

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