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 Timber Roofs in a Tranquil Meditation Retreat

Author:
Sai Chun Yung
Gabion Walls and Timber Roofs in a Tranquil Meditation Retreat
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed with gabion walls and a timber roof, the cabin provides a serene environment for meditation, effectively integrating sustainable practices with local architectural traditions.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using locally sourced gabion walls for enhanced thermal efficiency.
02
Timber roof incorporates a wind channel to improve natural ventilation.
03
Full-height glass pivot door provides unobstructed views and light.
04
Ondol-inspired heating system utilizes a smoke-extracting cavity for comfort.
05
Outdoor meditation platform extends the internal space into nature.

The Stone Cabin with a Shifted Roof at Vale de Moses serves as a meditation retreat that combines traditional elements with modern design. Located in Portugal, the cabin is designed to offer a peaceful space for reflection and well-being. The overall concept draws inspiration from local stone houses, focusing on creating distinct areas for meditation and therapeutic practices.

Spatial Configuration
The cabin is organized around three key elements: a timber roof structure, a stone body, and a sturdy base. The roof is positioned at an angle, creating varied internal and external spaces. Visitors enter through a stone courtyard, which acts as a bridge between the outdoors and the living area. This courtyard leads into the central space that features a high gable ceiling, specifically designed for meditation. The roof also extends outward to create an outdoor meditation platform, enhancing the connection to nature.

Materiality and Sustainable Practices
Materials used in the cabin reflect a commitment to sustainability and local traditions. The roof structure is supported by timber, designed to allow for natural airflow, which helps maintain a comfortable temperature inside. The walls are made from modular gabion structures filled with stones sourced from the area. This choice not only provides a natural aesthetic but also improves the thermal qualities of the building. The use of different stone sizes contributes to the overall ambiance; larger stones are used in the courtyard for shelter, while smaller stones create an intimate feeling in the central space.

Heating and Water Management
The base of the building incorporates a traditional ondol heating system, which uses a smoke-extracting cavity for underfloor heating. This setup emphasizes energy efficiency and contributes to a lower environmental impact. In addition, a greywater tank is included to manage water use responsibly, collecting rainwater and recycled wastewater. This focus on water conservation aligns with the cabin's sustainable design philosophy.

Constructability and Adaptation
Efforts have been made to ensure the cabin is easy to construct on-site. The dimensions of the timber are chosen for easy transportation, while the gabion walls are built using a modular steel frame, allowing for quick assembly. This modularity also makes it easy to adapt the cabin to different site conditions, ensuring that it fits well within its natural surroundings.

The cabin features a full-height glass pivot door that connects the central area to the outdoor platform. This door allows natural light to enter the space, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere for those who enter.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
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 Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
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

new
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
Early bird registration deadline 5 November 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
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 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
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