Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Moss-Covered Roofs Enhancing Community Retreats with Local Wood

Author:
Margyene Booi
Moss-Covered Roofs Enhancing Community Retreats with Local Wood
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Steep moss roofs characterize the cabins, where local wood and natural elements create a tranquil retreat focused on silent meditation and community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Steep moss roofs blend the cabins into the surrounding landscape.
02
Local wood construction emphasizes sustainability and regional connection.
03
Rooftops feature herbs and flowers to enhance biodiversity.
04
Each cabin includes a composting toilet for eco-friendly sanitation.
05
Design supports both private reflection and communal interaction.

The Silent Meditation Cabins are located in Latvia and offer a space for individuals to connect with nature. Focused on the theme of silent meditation, the cabins serve as a retreat away from the busy pace of modern life. Their design is inspired by traditional local buildings, particularly tea houses and barns. This connection to local architecture helps the cabins blend into their surroundings while promoting a sense of peace.

Architecture and Form

The cabins feature steep moss roofs that echo the surrounding trees, creating a visual connection with the forest. This architectural choice enhances insulation and manages rainwater effectively. Inside, the layout balances private spaces for reflection with communal areas for interaction. This arrangement allows visitors to choose between solitude and shared experiences, depending on their needs.

Materials and Sustainability

Locally sourced wood forms the structural framework of the cabins, highlighting a commitment to sustainability and regional building practices. The exterior is clad in materials that age naturally over time, helping the structures integrate better into the environment. This approach to material selection not only supports ecological goals but also emphasizes the connection between the cabins and the landscape.

Natural Integration

Natural elements play an important role in the design, with rooftops featuring flowers and herbs that enhance local biodiversity. This integration of plant life enriches the sensory experience for visitors, inviting them to engage with their surroundings in a meaningful way. The cabins incorporate essential amenities, including composting toilets, which align with eco-friendly practices.

Visitors can enjoy the clear connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, where features like a fireplace provide warmth and comfort. Glass doors open to nature, allowing sunlight and fresh air to enter, creating an inviting environment for relaxation and meditation.

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

Vancouver Tall Challenge: Building Higher Downtown

`
Competition organisers

The Vancouver Tall Challenge: Building Higher Downtown is an international architecture competition organized by Buildner in collaboration with the City of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA). The competition invites architects, designers, planners, and creative thinkers to explore innovative approaches to tall buildings in Vancouver’s downtown core, focusing on sustainability, livability, urban density, public space, and the city’s strong connection to nature. As Vancouver continues to grow, participants are challenged to rethink how vertical development can enhance urban life and contribute to a more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient city identity.

The competition offers a total prize fund of $15,000 CAD, with winning proposals selected by an international jury of architects, planners, academics, and city-building professionals. Key dates include the final registration deadline on October 29, 2026, submission deadline on November 30, 2026, and winners announcement on January 26, 2027. Full competition details, requirements, and registration information are available at architecturecompetitions.com/VancouverTallChallenge

Vancouver Tall Challenge

Design the future of Vancouver’s skyline

Building higher downtown ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 29 October 2026

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 York High Falls 
Riverfront Market

Design a New Riverfront Market in Rochester, New York

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 7 October 2026
Valli Wine 
Tasting Room

Design a wine tasting room in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 8 October 2026
The 
Quiet 
Tower

Design an observation tower in Latvia

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 15 October 2026
Vancouver 
Tall Challenge

Design the future of Vancouver’s skyline

Building higher downtown ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 29 October 2026
The Oak 
Moon 
Pavilion

Design a yoga pavilion in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 5 November 2026
Portugal Long Table 
Restaurant

Design a slow-living restaurant in Portugal

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 9 December 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 28 October 2026
Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #9 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
Advance registration deadline 12 November 2026
The 
Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Stockholm Furniture Fair Edition #6 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award + Exhibition at Stockholm Furniture Fair
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 3 December 2026
new
Buildner's Unbuilt Award

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a 50,000€ prize

50,000€ Prize / 2027 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 50,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 4 February 2027

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