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Wellness Space Elevated in a Forest Canopy

Authors:
Valeria Baeza, Mario Arancibia, Felipe Gonzalez, Tomas Zelada
Wellness Space Elevated in a Forest Canopy

Project in-detail

The project is a wellness retreat that brings together yoga, meditation, and communal living through an architecture focused on minimal environmental impact. Using ecologically responsible materials and passive design strategies, it fosters a balanced relationship between daily life and the surrounding natural landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Elevated structure reduces ecological impact while enhancing views.
02
Fog-catching technology collects moisture for irrigation, promoting sustainability.
03
Treating local pine wood contributes to the building's environmental footprint.
04
Cross-ventilation design maintains interior comfort without mechanical systems.
05
Flexible interior spaces accommodate various wellness activities seamlessly.

Set within a forested landscape, the project is designed as a restorative environment that supports mindfulness, sustainability, and adaptable communal living. A light-touch foundation system raises the structure above the ground, minimizing site disturbance while offering elevated views of the surrounding terrain. The architectural approach emphasizes immersion in nature, with floor-to-ceiling glazing in the yoga and meditation areas framing the forest and drawing natural light deep into the interior.

Flexible Interiors and Rhythms of Use

The open-plan layout encourages fluid transitions between movement, stillness, and gathering. Yoga spaces, dining areas, and resting zones are arranged to support a wide range of daily activities while maintaining a quiet, meditative quality. Modular furnishings and curved, organic forms allow the interior to adapt without losing its sense of clarity or calm. Cross-ventilation, enabled by carefully placed openings, provides natural cooling and removes the need for mechanical systems.

Material Tactility and Environmental Response

Sustainability is addressed at every level of the project. Locally sourced wood is used for both the structure and cladding, offering warmth and reducing transportation impact. A fog-catching roof system harvests atmospheric moisture for landscape irrigation, aligning resource use with local climatic conditions. Concrete and steel are employed only where structurally necessary, reducing the environmental footprint while ensuring durability. Every design decision reinforces the project's core values—supporting mindful living, environmental awareness, and a deep connection to place.

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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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