Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Hemp Rope Envelope and Timber Core Define a Unique Meditation Sanctuary

Authors:
Wenzhao Jia, Chi Zhang, Kai Wang, Jiani You, Kai Wang
Hemp Rope Envelope and Timber Core Define a Unique Meditation Sanctuary
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
A unique floating meditation space utilizes a hemp rope envelope and a timber core to create an adaptable environment that fosters self-reflection and connection with nature.
5 key facts about this project
01
Floating design integrates air and nature into the meditation experience.
02
Double spiral staircase enhances movement between contrasting environments.
03
Hemp rope envelope allows for natural light and environmental engagement.
04
Modular flooring adapts for various meditation practices and user needs.
05
Timber core construction provides warmth and stability within the space.

Floating Meditation is set in a natural environment that actively engages with its surroundings, providing a space for introspection and self-reflection. The design concept centers on integrating natural elements—air and greenery—into the meditation process. By connecting users with nature, the intention is to create an atmosphere that supports contemplation, reflecting on the themes of Past, Now, and Future.

Structural Core and External Envelope

Two main components make up the design: the structural core and the external envelope. The structural core forms the foundation of the meditation space, using layered timber pieces that ensure stability while offering a warm atmosphere. This core acts as a quiet retreat for contemplation, allowing different forms of meditation to take place within its walls.

The external envelope, created from hemp rope, introduces a lightness to the structure, facilitating interaction between indoors and outdoors. This design feature enhances the overall appearance and allows users to connect with the natural landscape, ensuring that the elements are a part of the meditation experience.

Double Spiral Staircase

A notable aspect of the design is the double spiral staircase. This staircase serves as an important link between the internal meditation space and the open air. It helps people move through the building while marking the transition from the enclosed areas to the expansive landscape outside. One path leads to a darker, quiet area for deep reflection, while the other invites the flow of light, encouraging users to engage with the changing qualities of their surroundings.

Floor Plan Flexibility

The meditation space features a flexible floor plan with modular components that users can rearrange as needed. Generally, the floor maintains a flat, tatami-like surface that is suitable for daily use. However, it can also be easily transformed into a single platform for meditation by reconfiguring four pieces. This adaptability reflects the design's consideration of user needs and its focus on supporting personal introspection.

Throughout the space, materials like timber and rope play a key role in creating a calm atmosphere. Their strategic use fosters an environment conducive to reflection and connects users with the surrounding nature. This careful attention to detail creates a meditation sanctuary that encourages a deeper awareness of oneself and the world outside.

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 Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
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
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026

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
Concrete 
Pavilion

Design a concrete pavilion

Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025
new
Rome 
Rain Rooms

Design a rain room for Rome

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 14 January 2026
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
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 28 January 2026
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
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

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
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
Advance registration deadline 22 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