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Meditation Space Surrounded by Charred Wood and Oiled Pine

Author:
Mateusz Bartczak
Meditation Space Surrounded by Charred Wood and Oiled Pine

Project in-detail

A circular meditation garden anchored by a tall pine tree and framed by charred wood and warm, oiled pine creates a serene environment for yoga and mindfulness practice.
5 key facts about this project
01
The building incorporates an engawa, enhancing the connection between indoor and outdoor environments.
02
A unique meditation garden features a pine tree rising through the floor, creating a focal point for reflection.
03
The use of yaki-sugi charred wood provides durability and a distinctive aesthetic.
04
Significant thermal buffers are created by leaving large areas of the structure uninsulated.
05
The design includes a large deck that separates communal spaces from areas for yoga and meditation.

The design features a long, slender shape that effectively uses an oblong site while directing its broadside towards the southwest. This orientation takes advantage of the sun's path, enhancing energy efficiency throughout the year. As a yoga house, it emphasizes a connection with nature and encourages introspection, creating a harmonious relationship between indoor spaces and the outdoors.

Circulation and Spatial Organization
The layout includes an engawa along one side, functioning as a walkway that allows easy access to all rooms. This traditional element of Japanese architecture connects the indoors with the outdoors, enhancing the experience for users. At the far end, a meditation garden provides a peaceful destination, inviting moments of quiet reflection.

Thermal Zones and Structure
The design incorporates areas with different thermal characteristics. By leaving large portions of the structure uninsulated, it creates a pavilion-like effect. Heating is concentrated in communal spaces, ensuring a comfortable environment throughout. The building appears to float above the ground, especially on the northern side, with metal columns supported by small point foundations that minimize excavation.

Material Application and Façade
The exterior features charred wood planks treated through the yaki-sugi method, which helps protect the wood while offering a unique visual appeal. This approach complements the surrounding landscape. Inside, warm, oiled pine is used for floors, walls, and ceilings, adding a sense of warmth and comfort to the space.

Interior Details and Unique Features
A large deck area serves as a social space for relaxation and interaction, strategically placed apart from yoga and meditation rooms. As visitors enter, they encounter a tranquil zen garden, where gravel abstractly represents water, enhancing sensory experiences. At the core, a circular meditation garden centers around a tall pine tree that rises through an opening in the floor, creating a focal point that invites contemplation and peace.

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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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