Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Mobile Raffia Room Overlooking Natural Landscapes in Sustainable Timber Retreat

Authors:
Filip Neagu, Ioana Zanfir, Sabina Bobric
Mobile Raffia Room Overlooking Natural Landscapes in Sustainable Timber Retreat
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
A mobile raffia room, adaptable to seasonal shifts, complements the sustainable timber structure, creating a serene environment for meditation and mindfulness in harmony with the surrounding landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Mobile raffia room adjusts to changing light and weather conditions.
02
Constructed using sustainably sourced macaranga eucalyptus timber.
03
Features an elevated podium made from granulated cork waste.
04
Incorporates a gong tower as a focal point for sound meditation.
05
Designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding natural landscape.

The Breathe Yin meditation cabin is an architectural project designed to provide a peaceful environment for meditation and mindfulness practices. Located in an area that emphasizes natural integration, the cabin serves multiple functions, including yoga sessions, group meditation, and personal contemplation. The design aims to foster a strong relationship with the surrounding landscape, encouraging users to engage with nature while participating in wellness activities.

This project represents a careful blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal. The configuration includes open and enclosed spaces that facilitate different meditation approaches, emphasizing flexibility and user adaptability. A noteworthy aspect of the design is its deliberate connection to the elements—air, earth, water, and fire—creating a holistic environment that supports various practices of stillness and movement.

Unique Materiality and Integration

A significant feature of the Breathe Yin cabin is its use of sustainable materials. Granulated cork waste comprises the podium and cabinetry, providing a durable surface while promoting eco-friendly practices through the reuse of materials. Macaranga eucalyptus timber forms the structural framework of the cabin and is known for its resilience, making it suitable in this architectural context. The choice of local materials underlines the project’s commitment to sustainability and environmental harmony, distinguishing it from standard architectural projects.

The mobile raffia room is another distinctive element of this design. It can be adjusted based on user needs, allowing for both open and closed configurations. This flexibility enhances the experience of meditation by offering varied sensory responses—users can appreciate natural light or create a more private atmosphere as needed. Additionally, the gong tower is integrated as an interactive structure, enriching communal experiences and sound-based practices.

Functional Spaces and User Experience

The Breathe Yin cabin is organized to optimize user experience across its various spaces. The podium acts as a platform for yoga and movement, encouraging physical engagement with the environment. Surrounding landscapes are designed to enhance the experience of the cabin, promoting a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor settings. Natural light plays a critical role in the design, with strategically placed openings that allow light to filter throughout the day, enriching the atmosphere of contemplation.

Each element in the design is carefully considered to enhance the user’s meditation practice. The interplay of textures from cork, timber, and natural stone provides not only aesthetic appeal but also tactile feedback, which is integral to the sensory experience of mindfulness. The architectural details are intentionally crafted to ensure that both individual and group practices are supported effectively.

By exploring the architectural plans, sections, and overall designs of the Breathe Yin project, readers can gain deeper insights into its conceptual framework and practical applications. The careful integration of design principles and material choices highlights the purpose of the cabin, making it a valuable reference point for those interested in modern architectural ideas focused on wellness and environmental integration.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

`
Competition organisers

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 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
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 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
Early bird registration deadline 15 October 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 October 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025
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
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

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