Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Folding Shades and Spruce Wood Create a Calm Retreat Experience

Authors:
Johnny Ramos, Keenan Johnson, Fernanda Suarez
Folding Shades and Spruce Wood Create a Calm Retreat Experience

Project in-detail

With its folding shades and natural spruce wood construction, the cabins offer a unique retreat designed to enhance mindfulness and connection to the surrounding landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Integration of folding screen walls allows for maximum natural light and airflow.
02
Features a raised sleeping area to optimize floor space and enhance comfort.
03
Incorporates an innovative dry toilet system for eco-friendly functionality.
04
Design offers a 180-degree view of the surrounding landscape for immersive experiences.
05
Utilizes local materials, including spruce wood, to support sustainability and harmony with nature.

The Ozo Meditation Cabins are designed as peaceful retreats in the green surroundings of Ozolini Tea Farm in Latvia. They focus on minimalism and quietness, providing an environment where visitors can step away from their daily routines and find moments of peace. The cabins are built to connect occupants with nature, enhancing the experience through careful design elements and spatial arrangements.

Architectural Integration

The cabins prioritize a strong relationship with the landscape. Folding screen walls can be opened to allow fresh air and sunlight to enter, creating a direct link between the interior and the natural setting. This design not only enhances the atmosphere but also protects visitors from weather elements and insects. The layout encourages a sense of calm while embracing the beauty of the outdoors.

Seasonal Adaptability

Flexibility for different seasons is an important characteristic of the cabins. Vertical folding shades can be adjusted to fit varying weather conditions, providing air circulation in warm months and retaining heat in colder ones. This feature ensures comfort throughout the year, allowing the cabins to remain welcoming for meditation at all times.

Interior Organization

Inside the cabins, every space is designed with a specific purpose in mind. Storage options are cleverly incorporated to reduce clutter, creating a neat and organized atmosphere. Visitors can find a raised bed for sleeping, a dedicated area for meditation that offers a wide view of the landscape, and a built-in dry toilet system. This thoughtful organization enhances the overall experience and reinforces the focus on mindfulness.

Natural Materiality

The choice of materials reflects an aim for sustainability and harmony with nature. The construction utilizes natural spruce wood, concrete, and a metal roof, all selected to be durable and in line with the environment. The use of spruce plywood for cladding also contributes to the cabins’ aesthetic and structural strength, further connecting the buildings to their surroundings.

Set in a serene forest, the Ozo Meditation Cabins encourage individuals to engage with nature while providing a designed space to relax and reflect. Each aspect of the cabins is crafted to foster a sense of peace and mindfulness, creating an ideal setting for retreat.

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