Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Directed Light and Concrete Prisms in a Serene Meditation Space

Author:
Nikita Asseev
Directed Light and Concrete Prisms in a Serene Meditation Space
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Concrete prisms channel directed light into a serene space designed for meditation, creating a harmonious environment that encourages personal reflection amidst nature.
5 key facts about this project
01
Prisms of light enhance the meditation experience by directing natural illumination towards users.
02
The cabin's design features distinct zones for meditation, technical functions, and ventilation through flower beds.
03
Concrete construction ensures durability while harmonizing with the surrounding natural environment.
04
Light formations create dynamic interior visuals that shift throughout the day, impacting the meditative atmosphere.
05
The integration of natural elements promotes a connection between the cabin and its landscape, enhancing tranquility.

The Tiny Kiwi Meditation Cabin is a thoughtfully designed space that offers a refuge for those seeking peace and reflection. Located in a tranquil natural setting, the cabin serves as a dedicated area for meditation. The design emphasizes light and spatial arrangement to create a calming environment, guided by the symbolism of the anahata lotus flower, which represents love for all life.

Light and Spatial Organization

One of the main features of the cabin is the strategic placement of prisms of light behind the seating areas. These prisms are designed to direct light towards those meditating, helping individuals connect with their inner selves. The focus on light plays a vital role in enhancing the meditative atmosphere, making it easier for users to experience moments of clarity. The layout incorporates designated areas for meditation, entry, technical functionality, and ventilation, ensuring that each space serves its intended purpose.

Material and Structural Considerations

The cabin is built with concrete elements that offer durability and strength. This choice of material creates a solid foundation for the building. Concrete is complemented by the prisms of light, which add a sense of dynamism to the interior. The combination of these materials encourages a deeper sensory experience, allowing users to engage more fully in their meditation practice.

Integration with Nature

The design carefully considers its relationship with the surrounding environment, featuring flower beds that promote ventilation and enhance the connection between the cabin and the landscape. This thoughtful integration encourages visitors to appreciate the natural world while using the space. The cabin serves as a tranquil spot where people can find solitude and contemplation away from the distractions of everyday life.

In this meditative environment, the directed light plays a crucial role in shaping the atmosphere, creating a serene space where individuals can focus and unwind.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
100,000€ Prize / 2026

The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

`
Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026

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
Rome 
Rain Rooms

Design a rain room for Rome

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 14 January 2026
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
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 28 January 2026
The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

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
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
Advance registration deadline 14 January 2026
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
Advance registration deadline 15 January 2026
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
Advance registration deadline 22 January 2026
new
MICROHOME 2026

Design a new concept of small-scale home and share a prize fund of 100,000€

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 11 February 2026
new
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026

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

100,000€ Prize / 2026 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 26 February 2026

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