Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Exploring Empty Space Through Scaffolds in Tokyo Meditation Cabins

Authors:
Anna Pylypenko, Nelia Moroz, Anastasiia Aniskina, Mariia Samiilenko
Exploring Empty Space Through Scaffolds in Tokyo Meditation Cabins
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Scaffolds define the meditation cabins in Tokyo, transforming urban density into quiet spaces for reflection through a thoughtful exploration of light and empty space.
5 key facts about this project
01
Meditation cabins are designed to reflect the transient nature of Tokyo’s urban environment.
02
Light plays a central role, enhancing the sense of presence within each cabin.
03
Scaffolds serve both structural and experiential purposes throughout the design.
04
Each cabin showcases a different architectural perspective from various architects.
05
The concept emphasizes the journey from urban density to inner tranquility.

The project is set in the bustling and densely populated city of Tokyo, designed as a space for meditation and reflection. The goal is to create an environment that contrasts with the city's lively atmosphere, centered on the idea of empty space as a pathway to inner peace. The design engages users by combining architectural forms with ambient qualities, allowing a connection to thoughts and feelings while situated in a busy urban context.

Conceptual Framework

The concept of "empty space" serves as the underlying principle of the design. It is viewed as a gray zone situated between clearly defined forms. This framework guides the creation of spaces that promote contemplation. Scaffolds play an important role in the project. These structures are functional during the day and become voids at night, highlighting the shifting nature of urban environments. This transition mirrors the journey into meditation, navigating from the external bustle to a quieter mental space.

Light and Experience

Light is a critical element in the meditation cabins, shaping the user experience significantly. Upon entering, individuals find that the cabin is filled with light, which enhances the feeling of presence and leads them inward. This use of light does more than serve a practical function; it creates an atmosphere suited for meditation, guiding users to explore deeper internal landscapes. The emphasis on luminosity enriches the overall experience, making it a key component of the design.

Architectural Diversity

Each cabin showcases a different architectural perspective, introducing a range of design philosophies to the project. This variety creates multiple unique experiences, encouraging visitors to engage with the distinctive atmosphere of each cabin. The absence of specific discussions about materials allows the focus to shift away from physical aspects and toward the qualities of the space itself. This reinforces the intention of creating a thoughtful environment for meditation.

Temporary scaffolds are carefully positioned alongside more permanent structures in the city. This relationship captures the essence of urban life—dynamic, changing, and deeply human. The experience of moving through these spaces, paired with the effects of light, speaks to a commitment to fostering reflection and clarity amid the growing complexity of city living.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5

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
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