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Glazed Retreats Overlooking a Serene Ravine

Authors:
Tomas esteban Pont apostolo, Julio ignacio Paez, Mauro andres Alasino
Glazed Retreats Overlooking a Serene Ravine

Project in-detail

With mobile glazed panels that enhance light and connectivity, the cabins are skillfully integrated into a ravine landscape, providing a tranquil retreat dedicated to meditation and reflection.
5 key facts about this project
01
Cabins utilize mobile glazed panels for flexible indoor-outdoor transitions.
02
A unique bent A-frame design integrates with the site's topography.
03
Sustainable energy is sourced from an on-site photovoltaic farm.
04
Rainwater harvesting system enhances ecological efficiency.
05
The layout promotes both communal interaction and personal solitude.

The Vale de Moses Meditation Cabins project is set in a distinctive natural landscape, designed to encourage reflection and tranquility. Its overall design concept focuses on creating a strong connection between the built environment and the surrounding nature. The architecture invites occupants to explore their inner selves while being present in the landscape around them.

Design Concept

The main idea behind the cabins is that observing nature allows for deeper self-reflection. This concept shapes the design, aiming to develop spaces that inspire contemplation and connection. A simple roof structure extends gracefully from the ravine, providing communal areas for gathering and offering shelters for individual retreats. This thoughtful arrangement balances the need for social interaction and personal solitude.

Spatial Arrangement

The layout features an internal circuit that organizes the cabins according to the natural shape of the ravine. Visitors move through two separate pathways—one for communal activities and the other leading privately to the cabins. This design creates a balance between shared experiences and moments of solitude, encouraging exploration of both the environment and personal reflection.

Sustainability Initiatives

Sustainability is a key focus of the design, with a strong emphasis on minimizing material and energy use. The building process is streamlined to avoid the need for specialized machinery, supporting eco-friendly practices in architecture. Mobile glazed panels form the boundary between the inside and outside, allowing flexibility in response to weather conditions while promoting natural light and airflow.

Energy and Water Infrastructure

The project includes a rainwater reservoir and a photovoltaic farm, establishing a self-supportive system for both water and energy needs. This thoughtful design not only supports environmental sustainability but also improves the functionality of the cabins, meeting user needs while respecting the natural landscape. The integration of these features highlights a commitment to environmental responsibility, creating a space that harmonizes with nature.

Each cabin expresses a clear relationship with its surroundings. The design emphasizes transitions between inside and outside, maintaining a balance that supports both comfort and connection to nature. Careful attention to detail—from the roof's design to the interaction of light within the spaces—illustrates a focus on providing a welcoming environment that enriches the experience of those who visit.

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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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