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Gabion Walls And Cobblestone Retreats Offering Meditative Spaces

Authors:
Daniel Kassel, Samuel Palacio
Gabion Walls And Cobblestone Retreats Offering Meditative Spaces

Project in-detail

Constructed with gabion walls and local cobblestones, these cabins create intimate meditative spaces that engage the surrounding landscape while promoting wellness and tranquility.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with local cobblestones, the gabion walls enhance stability and integrate with the environment.
02
Each cabin features flexible furnishings for various wellness treatments, promoting adaptability for different uses.
03
The meditative spaces are oriented to optimize views of the surrounding valley for deeper connection to nature.
04
An entryway framed by lush planting creates a welcoming threshold for visitors.
05
Tiered retaining walls harmonize with the site's topography, reinforcing the natural landscape.

The Balasana cabins offer a well-considered approach to creating a retreat within a sloped landscape. The design aims to connect visitors with nature while promoting wellness and tranquility. The overall concept emphasizes a harmonious relationship between the structures and their surroundings, creating spaces that encourage reflection and relaxation.

Site Integration

The cabins are positioned thoughtfully to match the slope of the terrain. Gabion walls filled with local cobblestones serve both stability and aesthetic purposes. These walls follow the contours of the land, enhancing the visual connection between the buildings and the existing landscape. This technique respects the natural features already present, ensuring that the cabins feel a part of their environment.

Functional Layout

Each cabin has three main areas: the entryway, meditative space, and terrace. The entryway acts as a welcoming point, offering a smooth transition into the calming environment inside. It is framed with greenery that greets visitors as they arrive. The meditative space is oriented to take advantage of views over the valley, allowing guests to feel immersed in the landscape while engaging in wellness activities.

Meditative Experience

The design of the meditative spaces supports various wellness practices. Ample room is provided for activities such as massages. A massage table can be easily stored, maintaining a flexible environment. Thoughtfully placed lighting creates a cozy atmosphere, encouraging relaxation and a sense of well-being.

Terrace Connection

The terrace plays a key role, providing open views of the valley. It invites visitors to step outside, reinforcing the aim of creating a calm sanctuary. This outdoor area enhances the experience of being close to nature, allowing moments of contemplation and connection.

The exterior walls made of gabion serve as both structure and texture, linking the cabins closely with their setting in a simple yet effective manner.

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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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