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Curved Timber Atrium Retreat With Eco-Friendly Wellness Spaces

Authors:
Renelle Handa, Jessica Wang, Jessica Jia
Curved Timber Atrium Retreat With Eco-Friendly Wellness Spaces

Project in-detail

A multi-level retreat centered on wellness, Auricle Cove integrates timber, expansive glazing, and biophilic design. The structure supports sustainable living through a greenhouse, daylight-driven spaces, and local material use.
5 key facts about this project
01
Four-level timber structure with an arched atrium core Integrated greenhouse promotes eco-conscious farming and herbal medicine Pine wood and vertical slats filter light and enhance privacy Yoga and multipurpose spaces support wellness and communal activity Designed for passive ventilation, solar tracking, and thermal comfort.

Auricle Cove is a multi-story timber building designed as a wellness and retreat center. It employs a laminated pine frame system, natural insulation, and vertical wooden slats to create a breathable, tactile envelope. Expansive glass panels on all floors maximize passive solar gain, while an operable skylight and central atrium encourage natural ventilation. The curved rooflines are both structural and symbolic, inspired by Art Nouveau geometry and organic form.

Regarding program and spatial logic, the house is divided across four floors:

Ground Level: Entry, dining, kitchen, bathroom Second Floor: Yoga room and living space Third Floor: Private bedrooms and additional bathrooms Top Floor: Greenhouse and multipurpose area for workshops

This vertical programming reflects a sequence of shared and private spaces, all oriented around the light-filled atrium core.

The design promotes self-sufficiency through the greenhouse, encouraging occupants to engage in local agriculture. The strategic placement of large glass panels creates a dialogue between interior spaces and outdoor surroundings, further reinforcing the project's main theme of connectivity with nature.

Sustainability is embedded through material sourcing, spatial design, and food autonomy. Locally grown vegetables and herbs cultivated in the greenhouse support plant-based nutrition, while the building’s passive strategies minimize energy use. Views, light, and air flow are choreographed to support physical and mental wellness, reflecting a deep connection to site and season.

Key architectural plans and sections illustrate the building's thoughtful integration within its landscape, providing insights into how the design enhances user experience while minimizing ecological impact.

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The Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge invites architects and designers to create iconic public sculptures for one of two sites in Saudi Arabia: Abu Hadriyah Road or the Tharwa Sea Front in Al-Khobar. Proposals should reflect Saudi identity, culture, and future aspirations.

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The Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge is an international architecture and design competition inviting creatives to shape the future of Saudi Arabia’s public spaces. With a total prize fund of €50,000, the competition calls for sculptural proposals that merge cultural symbolism with innovative design, offering participants a chance to see their concepts brought to life in a rapidly transforming national context.

Organised by Buildner in partnership with the Mujassam Watan Initiative, the challenge focuses on two prominent locations: Abu Hadriyah Road, a major highway and gateway into the Eastern Province, and the Tharwa Sea Front in Al-Khobar, a pedestrian-focused waterfront district. Designers must select one site and develop a sculpture that engages with its surroundings—whether addressing the fast-paced dynamism of a transit corridor or creating moments of interaction along a coastal promenade.

Proposals should be bold, site-specific, and rooted in narrative—drawing on themes such as heritage, national identity, transformation, and dialogue. Environmental responsiveness, material durability, and feasibility are strongly encouraged, as winning projects may be selected for actual construction.

Each submission must include four A2 landscape presentation boards, a cover image, and a written project description. The competition is open to professionals and students alike, working individually or in teams of up to four people. No professional license is required.

Registration is open until July 24, 2025, with final submissions due by August 27, 2025. Winners will be announced on October 1, 2025.

Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge

Design iconic urban sculptures for the prestigious Mujassam Watan competition and compete for 50,000 €

50,000 € PRIZE project COMPETITION
Prize 50,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 24 July 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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