Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Framed Views Within a Stone and Concrete Retreat for Tea-Making

Authors:
Hyosil Yang, Juyoun Shin
Framed Views Within a Stone and Concrete Retreat for Tea-Making
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Carefully integrating existing stone walls with reinforced concrete, this guesthouse creates a series of framed views that invite reflection and tranquility into the tea-making experience.
5 key facts about this project
01
Existing stone walls are preserved as integral design elements.
02
New walls frame nature views, enhancing interior spaces.
03
The layout facilitates a gradual transition from public to private areas.
04
Meditation spaces are designed for introspection and serenity.
05
The roof structure blends with the surrounding landscape topography.

The tea-makers guesthouse in Latvia creates a space where the process of making tea blends with the surrounding landscape. It focuses on a sensory experience, inviting people to engage with nature while reflecting on their thoughts. The design thoughtfully balances communal and private areas, respecting the historical context of the site to foster tranquility and personal introspection.

Concept and Spatial Organization

The guesthouse design is centered on the sensory elements of tea preparation. Visitors can connect with natural materials and the environment as they make tea. The layout encourages movement through both shared and private spaces. It starts with a workshop area that invites community interaction, which gradually leads to more intimate settings for meditation and personal reflection.

Integration of Historical Elements

Existing stone walls play an important role in the guesthouse. These historical features connect the building to its past and add to its character. New walls wrap around these stones, framing views of the outdoors and blending the interior with the exterior. This design strategy reinforces a sense of place while enhancing the overall user experience.

Circulation and User Experience

The pathways through the guesthouse are designed to guide visitors from communal areas to quiet spaces. This circulation allows for an easy transition from lively interactions to moments of solitude. Guests can enjoy the activities in the workshop before finding calm in dedicated meditation areas. The design supports both social and private experiences, striking a balance that enhances well-being.

Structural Considerations

The roof structure on the second floor is a modern addition, supported by concrete walls that provide stability. This functional aspect harmonizes with the historic elements of the guesthouse. The roof features a gentle slope that mirrors the natural landscape, allowing the building to blend into its surroundings. The design encourages an appreciation of the environment, integrating the structure while maintaining a respectful profile.

Throughout the guesthouse, spaces invite nature in and create opportunities for reflection and social engagement. The design not only respects historical significance but also meets contemporary needs, offering a thoughtful place for tea-making and connection with the landscape.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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

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

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

Recurring architecture competitions

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
new
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
Early bird registration deadline 2 October 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
Advance registration deadline 9 October 2025
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
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
Concrete 
Pavilion

Design a concrete pavilion

Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 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

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