Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Gabion Walls and Natural Elements in a Tranquil Wellness Retreat

Authors:
Jesus Goncalves, Maria Gonzalez, Maria Gabriela Suarez, Cesar Barbaran
Gabion Walls and Natural Elements in a Tranquil Wellness Retreat
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed with gabion walls and designed around the concept of chakras, the space functions as a wellness retreat that promotes self-discovery and community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Rooted in the concept of chakras, the design promotes holistic wellness.
02
Gabion walls are constructed using locally sourced rock, integrating with the landscape.
03
A small orchard encourages users to cultivate their own produce on-site.
04
Natural light and ventilation are prioritized to enhance user experience.
05
The zen garden offers a dedicated space for meditation and reflection.

The Yoga House is designed to integrate with its natural surroundings while providing a space focused on wellness and self-discovery. Located in a tranquil environment, the design utilizes the concept of chakras—energy centers in the body—to shape distinct areas that promote both personal reflection and community interaction. This thoughtful approach aims to create a welcoming atmosphere, allowing occupants to feel connected to nature and to each other.

Spatial Organization

The layout includes seven specific areas, each corresponding to a chakra and its unique energy. The entry point features a gabion wall, which serves both a structural purpose and as a visual guide for visitors arriving at the main yoga shala. This design element allows for a smooth transition from the outside world into a space meant for contemplation and gathering.

Functionality and Flow

Each space is crafted to support various activities related to wellness practices. The Root Chakra (I AM) offers a welcoming entry, connecting visitors to the surrounding landscape, while the Sacral Chakra (I FEEL) includes essential service facilities for convenience. Additionally, the Solar Plexus Chakra (I DO) contains a small orchard, encouraging activities that involve personal cultivation. The Heart Chakra (I LOVE) is designed as a kitchenette, fostering social interaction and shared experiences among occupants.

Relationship with Nature

Natural light and ventilation are key components of the design, creating connections between the interior spaces and the environment outside. The Third Eye Chakra (I SEE) includes the yoga shala, which provides views of nature to enhance the calming experience. Nearby, the zen garden in the Crown Chakra (I UNDERSTAND) serves as a quiet space for meditation, encouraging users to unwind and reflect amid nature.

Design Elements

The project incorporates locally sourced gabion walls, filled with rock, to maintain a connection to the local landscape. This choice supports ecological sensitivity and contributes to the overall structure's efficiency. The design emphasizes simplicity and practicality, inviting users to engage fully with their surroundings. Each area resonates with principles of wellness, resulting in a space that enhances personal growth and fosters a sense of community among its users.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
100,000€ Prize / 2026

The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

`
Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 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
new
The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025
new
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 26 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
new
Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 21 January 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

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
new
The Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 20 November 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
Final registration deadline 26 November 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 26 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
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
Advance registration deadline 3 December 2025
The Home of 
Shadows

Design a home with no artificial lighting

The light studies. Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 14 January 2026
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
Advance registration deadline 15 January 2026
new
MICROHOME 2026

Design a new concept of small-scale home and share a prize fund of 100,000€

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 11 February 2026
new
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2026 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 26 February 2026

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