Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Hexagonal Retreat Built from New Zealand Timber and Bluestone for Meditative Reflection

Authors:
Suprima Joshi, Yi jia Liao
Hexagonal Retreat Built from New Zealand Timber and Bluestone for Meditative Reflection

Project in-detail

Constructed with New Zealand sourced pine and Timaru Bluestone, the hexagonal meditation cabin is designed to enhance self-reflection within its natural forest setting.
5 key facts about this project
01
The cabin’s hexagonal shape optimizes acoustics for meditation.
02
Natural ventilation is achieved through strategically placed openings aligned with prevailing winds.
03
The structure uses local materials, including New Zealand sourced pine and Timaru Bluestone.
04
A movable altar allows flexibility for meditation practices and interaction with the natural environment.
05
The design minimizes heat gain while maximizing daylight through carefully positioned glazing.

The Whārite Meditation Cabin is located in a quiet forest clearing that is surrounded by Banksia trees. This space serves as a place for meditation and self-reflection, designed to connect with the natural environment. The cabin’s concept revolves around the idea of balance, represented by its hexagonal shape. This unique geometry encourages a sense of unity among those using the space.

Architecture Concept

The hexagonal design not only complements the layout of the site but also improves how people move around inside. This shape fosters intimacy and makes it easy for voices to carry, enhancing communication during meditation sessions. Users can feel a sense of closeness, making the experience more personal.

Design and Orientation

The cabin has been carefully placed to respond to the local climate, particularly focusing on sunlight and wind. To reduce heat from the sun during the summer, the design limits window glazing on the roof. Openings are positioned on the east and west sides to welcome natural light at optimal times throughout the day. This approach keeps the cabin comfortable and minimizes reliance on artificial lighting.

Material Selection

Attention to materials plays a significant role in the cabin’s design. It uses New Zealand sourced pine, known as Pinus radiata, and Timaru Bluestone. These materials were selected for their strength and local availability, ensuring that the cabin remains connected to its environment. Structural Insulated Panels (SIP) made in New Zealand enhance energy efficiency. This choice supports thermal performance while keeping the structure lightweight.

Functional Features

A movable altar meant for creating flower essences adds a special touch to the cabin. It provides flexibility and invites users to interact with nature. This feature enhances the primary purpose of the cabin, allowing for a deeper engagement with the personal practice of meditation.

Light pours through the well-placed windows, brightening the interior. The smooth wooden surfaces and the rugged stone create a calming atmosphere, encouraging visitors to pause, reflect, and find peace in the simplicity of their surroundings.

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

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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