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Cork Lined Cabin with Mirror Facades for Mindfulness Retreat

Authors:
Andrea Smaniotto, Barbara Sandri
Cork Lined Cabin with Mirror Facades for Mindfulness Retreat
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With its unique cork lining and reflective mirror facades, the cabins create a serene environment for meditation, enhancing the connection between interior spaces and the surrounding landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Cork lining enhances acoustic comfort and promotes natural insulation.
02
Mirror facades reflect the surrounding landscape, creating dynamic visual experiences.
03
Cabins are designed with equilateral triangles to symbolize balance and harmony.
04
Photovoltaic glass supports energy generation and sustainability.
05
Large windows frame views, integrating interior and exterior spaces.

The design is situated in a peaceful natural environment and aims to encourage mindfulness and reflection through the creation of small cabins. The overall concept highlights a strong connection between the structures and their surroundings. By using simple geometric forms, the design fosters a calming atmosphere that supports meditation. The incorporation of triangles and squares contributes to a clean aesthetic while addressing the human desire for serenity and a bond with nature.

Geometric Foundation

The cabins primarily use equilateral triangles as their main design element, representing harmony and balance. This geometry shapes the layout, with square faces forming stable structures. The chosen shapes create a distinct visual style that emphasizes simplicity. The arrangement allows occupants to feel immersed in their surroundings, enhancing the experience of being in nature.

Material Choices

Cork is selected for the interior lining of the cabins due to its natural durability and sound-absorbing qualities. As a renewable material, cork aligns with modern sustainable practices, contributing to a lower environmental impact. Its smooth texture adds comfort, enhancing the experience for users. The material choice reinforces the goal of blending the indoor space with the landscape, creating a more natural atmosphere.

Reflective Surfaces

Specific elements of the cabins incorporate mirror glass, which serves both functional and aesthetic roles. This choice allows the integration of energy-generating photovoltaic systems while also reflecting light and views of the landscape. The reflective surfaces help dissolve the divide between the cabins and their environment, creating a visual interplay that changes throughout the day with shifting light conditions.

Design Experience

Each cabin encourages meditation and self-reflection in a peaceful setting free from distractions. Large windows invite natural light and frame picturesque views, allowing the beauty of nature to enter the interiors. The careful design and choice of materials create a calming space that invites occupants to engage in thoughtful practices. The soft interplay of light, reflection, and the natural surroundings enhances each user’s connection to their environment.

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

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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

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