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Floating Glass Structure Embracing Natural Wood in a Tranquil Retreat

Authors:
Néstor Mancini, Mariana Perujo, Cristian Silvestri, Gabriel Sottile
Floating Glass Structure Embracing Natural Wood in a Tranquil Retreat

Project in-detail

A floating glass structure rests above the landscape, its wooden framework reflecting organic forms while offering a serene space for meditation and reflection.
5 key facts about this project
01
Floating design integrates with the landscape, allowing vegetation to thrive underneath.
02
Three segmented roof sections provide unobstructed views of the surrounding forest.
03
Wooden structure reflects organic forms, enhancing the connection to nature.
04
Elevated pathway guides visitors from nature into a meditative space.
05
Extensive glass elements create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor environments.

The meditation cabin showcases an approach to design that values connection with nature while providing a space for reflection and calm. Located within a sanctuary, the cabin becomes part of a larger story. It serves as a place for visitors to pause, offering a peaceful environment that encourages quiet contemplation and mindfulness.

Design Concept

The concept focuses on the experience of arriving at the cabin. Visitors walk along an elevated pathway that gently hugs the natural slope of the land. This creates a transition from the outside world to a space suitable for meditation. Familiar elements, like the gabled roof, create a comforting atmosphere that resonates with past visits to similar retreats.

Structural Approach

The structure rises from the ground on minimal supports, allowing the surrounding plants to thrive underneath. This design choice integrates the cabin into its environment, emphasizing the connection between built form and nature. The roof is designed with three sections that provide views of the forest through glass panels. This opens the space, letting in light and offering glimpses of the landscape outside.

Materiality and Aesthetic

The cabin primarily uses wood, an appropriate choice that mirrors the shapes found in nature, such as trees and branches. This material supports the structure while enhancing its links to the site. Glass is also a prominent feature, allowing those inside to experience the surroundings while providing protection. The glass section appears to hover within the wooden structure, creating contrast in a simple yet effective way.

Spatial Dynamics

The layout brings together two distinct elements that enhance the experience. The organic curves of the wooden structure meet the sharp lines of the glass box. This creates a balance that encourages visitors to reflect on their surroundings. The design invites people to engage with the cabin as well as the landscape, fostering a sense of harmony. This delicate balance between openness and shelter allows users to find peace in a thoughtfully designed space.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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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

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