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 Walls Integrate Water Features for Tranquil Meditation Space

Authors:
Justyna Kościółek, Katarzyna Skibińska
Moss-Covered Walls Integrate Water Features for Tranquil Meditation Space
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Moss-covered walls and integrated water features create a serene environment that enhances the meditative experience in a self-sufficient structure designed for personal reflection.
5 key facts about this project
01
Moss-covered walls enhance acoustic comfort and connect users to nature.
02
Lotus-filled water basins are integrated for both aesthetics and relaxation.
03
Elevated platforms provide panoramic views and a sense of openness.
04
Natural ventilation systems promote airflow and energy efficiency.
05
A bio-fireplace creates warmth and ambiance within the meditative space.

MIMESIS serves as a sanctuary for personal reflection and meditation, deeply tied to natural elements. Located in a peaceful setting, the design encourages interaction with the surroundings while fostering a sense of inner calm. It is grounded in the principles of five elements: air, ether, water, earth, and fire, providing a cohesive experience that enhances its purpose.

Spatial Organization

The layout of MIMESIS clearly separates public and private areas while promoting an open flow. Elevated platforms encourage users to look toward the sky, fostering a sense of freedom and connection to the environment. This thoughtful arrangement allows for smooth transitions between the indoors and outdoors, enhancing engagement with nature.

Water Elements

Water features play a significant role in enhancing the sensory experience within the cabin. Basins filled with lotus flowers add to the calming environment and incorporate the soothing sounds of flowing water. This focus on water not only enriches the atmosphere but also connects with the themes of purification and relaxation.

Materiality

Materials used in MIMESIS emphasize sustainability and a connection to the earth. Internal walls are coated with moss and clay, creating a tactile experience that links users to their surroundings. These materials contribute to the overall aesthetic and encourage a deeper relationship with nature, allowing individuals to truly feel the environment.

Ambiance and Lighting

A bio-fireplace located within the relaxation area adds warmth and light, enhancing the atmosphere of the cabin. It serves both practical and symbolic purposes by providing heat and contributing to the inviting quality of the space. The interaction between light and warmth underscores the earthy aesthetic and supports the meditative function of the environment.

Natural light flows through well-placed openings, adapting to the changing patterns of the day. This design choice links the space to the shifting environment outside while accentuating the organic shapes of the structure. Each moment brings a different quality of light, enriching the overall experience and grounding users in both time and place.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
100,000€ Prize / 2026

The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

`
Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 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
The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025
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 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
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
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
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
Advance registration deadline 15 January 2026
new
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026

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

100,000€ Prize / 2026 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 26 February 2026

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