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Herbal Sewage Treatment and Polished Concrete Define a Cliffside Wellness Retreat

Author:
Thomas Hahn
Herbal Sewage Treatment and Polished Concrete Define a Cliffside Wellness Retreat

Project in-detail

Incorporating a herbal sewage treatment system and polished concrete, the design creates a sustainable wellness retreat on a cliff that emphasizes both community interaction and individual tranquility.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design includes a herbal sewage treatment plant for efficient water management.
02
Polished concrete surfaces enhance durability and contribute to a modern aesthetic.
03
Multi-tiered levels provide varied spatial experiences for users.
04
Outdoor green terraces integrate with the surrounding landscape.
05
The structure optimizes sunlight and shading through careful architectural geometry.

The Yogahouse on a Cliff is set against a dramatic cliffside backdrop and designed to promote wellness activities. Its purpose is to create a retreat that fosters both personal reflection and social interaction. The design fully embraces sustainable principles while ensuring that the building harmonizes with the natural landscape, emphasizing a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Spatial Organization

The building's layout focuses on organizing space around a central communal area. This arrangement encourages interaction among users and grants flexibility for various activities. The structure features three distinct levels: the Head-in-the-Sky-Level, the Find-Your-Middle-Level, and the Feet-on-the-Ground-Level. Each level offers specific experiences tailored to support diverse functions and create a comfortable environment.

Key Features

The design incorporates several key features that enhance usability. A multifunctional covered space serves as a gathering area, while utility zones ensure convenience. The building includes essential facilities such as showers, changing rooms, a kitchen, and a yoga room. These elements are arranged thoughtfully to provide an inviting atmosphere for both individual practices and group activities, further enhanced by outdoor features like filter areas and green terraces that promote interaction with nature.

Sustainable Practices

An important focus of the Yogahouse is its commitment to sustainability, highlighted by the inclusion of a herbal sewage treatment plant. This innovative solution allows for effective water management and reuse within the building. The choice of materials reflects this sustainability ethos, with polished concrete, wooden planks, and epoxy coatings selected for their durability and suitability to the environment.

Design Details

Light plays a critical role in the design, as the building’s geometry is shaped to optimize natural sunlight and provide adequate shading. This thoughtful arrangement allows light to fill the interior spaces, creating an uplifting ambiance. Such design choices enhance the experience of those using the space, making it conducive to activities centered around wellness and mindfulness. The relationship between the building and its stunning surroundings further reinforces its purpose as a place for reflection and rejuvenation.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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