Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Curved Timber Embrace with Expansive Nature Views

Authors:
Janice Teng, Rachel Moody, Carlos Veas, Lachlan Smith
Curved Timber Embrace with Expansive Nature Views

Project in-detail

The design features a cocoon-like structure with curved timber walls that create an intimate atmosphere, while expansive glass openings frame picturesque views, serving as a retreat for meditation and reflection.
5 key facts about this project
01
Curved walls create an intimate, cocooning effect.
02
Expansive glass openings frame targeted views of the landscape.
03
Timber construction emphasizes warmth and a connection to nature.
04
The design features a pot belly stove as a central gathering point.
05
Strategic roof angles manage light exposure throughout the day.

The Silent Meditation Wilderness Cabin is a retreat set in a quiet natural environment, designed to promote reflection and mindfulness. The focus is on creating a relationship between people and nature, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the landscape while enjoying modern comforts. The design aims for clarity and simplicity, ensuring functional spaces that facilitate solitude and contemplation.

Spatial Arrangement

The layout of the cabin is carefully planned to provide stunning views of the surrounding dewy plains and the shimmering lake. This thoughtful arrangement lets in ample natural light, enhancing the connection between the interior and the exterior. Openings are positioned to frame scenic vistas, encouraging occupants to engage visually with their surroundings.

Architectural Form

Curved walls define the cabin's shape and provide a sense of safety and comfort. This design choice not only enhances the visual appeal but also creates a nurturing environment that supports meditation and inner peace. The overall scale of the cabin is intimate, promoting relaxation and quiet thought.

Material Utilization

Timber is a key material used throughout the cabin, establishing a warm atmosphere while linking the interior to the natural world outside. Strategically placed glass in sliding panels enhances the connection between inside and outside, allowing clear views and plenty of natural light. The roof design features angles and openings that manage sunlight, contributing to a calming atmosphere.

Atmospheric Qualities

As day shifts to night, the space inside the cabin changes. The warmth generated by the pot belly stove becomes a central focus, inviting occupants to settle and reflect. This design feature not only creates a cozy environment but also emphasizes the bond between people and the wilderness, reinforcing the cabin's purpose as a space for mindfulness and serenity.

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