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Meditative Retreat With Vertical Cladding and Plywood Huts

Authors:
Dustin Yee, Alexander Wilton, Elena Bushell, Nico Bortolin
Meditative Retreat With Vertical Cladding and Plywood Huts

Project in-detail

Utilizing vertical wood cladding and plywood huts, the design creates a meditative retreat that fosters community engagement for visiting poets amidst the natural landscape of Latvia.
5 key facts about this project
01
Residences are inspired by the concept of austra's koks, symbolizing interconnectedness.
02
Each hut is oriented to a central gathering area to promote community interaction.
03
Plywood is used for wall sheathing, enhancing both warmth and flexibility.
04
Vertical wood slat cladding integrates buildings with the natural landscape.
05
A dedicated meditation room encourages quiet reflection within the retreat.

Saulė is designed as residences for visiting poets, located in the culturally rich environment of Latvia. The project highlights the deep connection between individuals and the natural world. The design concept emphasizes themes of harmony, health, unity, and light. This creates spaces that encourage both personal reflection and community interaction among artists.

Cohesive Layout

The residences are arranged to draw attention toward a central gathering area, which acts as the core for community engagement. This layout provides opportunities for social interaction while also honoring the need for individual solitude. Each residence is inspired by the concept of the austra's koks, depicting a sense of interconnectedness. Together, they represent branches emerging from a common trunk, symbolizing unity within diversity.

Materiality

The choice of materials is an essential aspect of the design. The buildings primarily use wood, which aligns with local traditions and sustainable construction practices. The warmth and texture of wood enhance the experience of the spaces. Plywood serves as wall sheathing, adding versatility and efficiency while maintaining the distinctive appearance of the huts.

Light and Connectivity

Glazing systems are thoughtfully placed to maximize natural light. These openings create visual connections between the interiors and the surrounding landscape. Residents benefit from the changing light conditions during the day, which fosters a strong link between indoor and outdoor environments.

Architectural Language

Vertical wood slat cladding adds to the overall design. This feature serves as both a practical and aesthetic barrier, blending the buildings with their natural surroundings. The architecture respects traditional Latvian values while responding to modern needs, providing a supportive environment for creativity and communal living.

Natural materials and careful detailing create a warm atmosphere. Each residence tells its own story while contributing to a shared community experience, marked by the gentle interplay of light and shadow across the architectural forms.

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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

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