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Meditation Retreat Crafted From Local Stone and Timber With Passive Ventilation Features

Authors:
Michael MacNeill, Joseph Zhang, Justin Lewis
Meditation Retreat Crafted From Local Stone and Timber With Passive Ventilation Features

Project in-detail

Crafted with locally sourced stone and timber, this meditation retreat integrates flexible spaces and passive ventilation to create a serene environment for mindfulness and reflection.
5 key facts about this project
01
Crafted entirely from locally sourced materials, enhancing its environmental integration.
02
Incorporates passive solar design principles to optimize energy efficiency year-round.
03
Silence chambers are strategically placed for individual meditation and reflection.
04
Pavilions are designed to represent specific yoga poses, merging functionality with symbolism.
05
The camp layout allows for flexible space utilization, accommodating various group sizes.

### Project Overview

The Stone Barn Meditation Camp is located in Latvia and is designed to support meditation practices, particularly yoga. The layout incorporates six distinct yoga poses, creating spaces that not only facilitate various activities but also enhance the meditative experience. The design merges traditional architectural forms with contemporary sustainable principles.

### Spatial Configuration and Flexibility

The project emphasizes flexibility and tranquility, essential elements for meditation. Each pavilion is inspired by a specific yoga pose, establishing a harmonious relationship between the built environment and nature. The hierarchical structure of the camp allows for adaptability, catering to changing user needs while optimizing functionality.

The three-floor organization features distinct layouts: the first floor houses community spaces for group practices, while the second and third floors provide guest accommodations designed for both privacy and communal interaction. Movable walls and adaptable partitions enable dynamic uses of the internal spaces, ensuring that the design remains responsive to the needs of users.

### Materiality and Sustainability

The selection of materials reflects both durability and connection to the environment. Stone serves as the primary external material, providing a natural aesthetic, while wood is used for roofing and structural elements, imparting warmth and enhancing the tactile experience. Brick is incorporated for its thermal properties, aligning with the traditional architectural context of Latvia.

Sustainable practices are a keystone of the design, which features photovoltaic glass for energy efficiency and passive systems to reduce energy consumption. These initiatives utilize local materials, minimizing transportation emissions. Natural light and ventilation are emphasized through strategic design choices, contributing to a comfortable indoor climate while fostering an engaging sensory experience.

In addition, outdoor areas such as the meditation garden and silence chambers are integral to the project, promoting introspection and mental well-being through direct interaction with nature. These features enhance the overall user experience, supporting the objectives of the camp in creating a nurturing environment.

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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

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
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