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Moss-Covered Roofs Enhancing Community Retreats with Local Wood

Author:
Margyene Booi
Moss-Covered Roofs Enhancing Community Retreats with Local Wood

Project in-detail

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.

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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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