Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Hyperboloid Structure Surrounded by Greenery for Urban Meditation

Author:
Sook Chong
Hyperboloid Structure Surrounded by Greenery for Urban Meditation
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
The hyperboloid structure, constructed primarily from bamboo and surrounded by greenery, provides a compact sanctuary for meditation in the heart of Tokyo’s urban landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
The cabin's design features a hyperboloid structure that improves stability and aesthetic appeal.
02
Constructed primarily from sustainable bamboo, emphasizing low environmental impact.
03
The ground level employs metal mesh for privacy while allowing natural light and airflow.
04
Ivy on the rooftop balcony enhances the connection with nature and promotes biodiversity.
05
The compact footprint of less than 6 square meters allows for flexible placement in urban settings.

The Meditation Cabin: Lighthouse is situated in Itabashi City, Tokyo, and provides a space for meditation and relaxation amidst busy urban life. Designed as a retreat for individuals, the tower cabin stands with a footprint of less than 6 square meters. Its compact size allows for flexible placement in various locations, making it an accessible sanctuary for those seeking a moment of peace.

Architectural Concept

The cabin features a hyperboloid form, which enhances its structural stability and efficiency. The superstructure is made of prefabricated elements, allowing for quick assembly in a factory setting and easy relocation to different sites. This modular design caters to the varying needs of urban users while ensuring the cabin is efficient to build and install.

Functional Organization

Inside, the cabin includes three distinct levels to serve specific purposes. The ground level acts as a transition space, allowing visitors to leave behind the stresses of the outside world. Enclosed by a metal mesh, this area offers both visual privacy and abundant light, creating an inviting atmosphere that connects visitors with their surroundings.

The second level is focused on rest and recovery. It is designed with comfortable seating spaces, encouraging visitors to take a break and enjoy the tranquility. This thoughtful arrangement fosters a sense of comfort, making it easy to unwind.

On the rooftop, a meditative space awaits, complete with panoramic views of the city. Here, ivy is planted on the balcony, adding greenery and promoting a bond with nature. This element enriches the experience, inviting reflection and a deeper connection to the environment.

Materiality

Sustainability is a key consideration in the design. Bamboo is used throughout the cabin, valued for its strength and environmental benefits. Its lightweight characteristics simplify construction and transport, making it a practical choice for a modular building. The metal mesh on the ground level contributes to privacy, while also keeping the space airy and bright.

The rooftop area, adorned with lush ivy, allows visitors to pause and reflect while surrounded by nature. This combination creates an environment that encourages mindfulness and helps individuals reconnect with themselves amid the urban setting.

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