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Mycelium Insulation and Living Roofs Enhance Mindfulness Cabin Experience

Authors:
Liza Karimova, Sean Leahy
Mycelium Insulation and Living Roofs Enhance Mindfulness Cabin Experience

Project in-detail

Utilizing mycelium for insulation and incorporating a living roof, this cabin provides a unique retreat for meditation and mindfulness while fostering a deep connection to its forest surroundings.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes mycelium as an innovative insulation material.
02
Features a living roof that supports local flora and edible plants.
03
Incorporates vertical and horizontal openings for light and connection to nature.
04
Designed to enhance both elevated contemplation and grounded routines.
05
Emphasizes the ritual of tea making as a central experience.

The design presents a thoughtful exploration of the connection between the mind and body, set in a natural environment that promotes reflection and awareness. A cabin serves as a peaceful retreat, emphasizing silence and meditation in its layout while encouraging interaction with nature. Its design thoughtfully considers spatial organization and the overall experience, aiming to enhance mindfulness in everyday life.

Spatial Configuration

The cabin contains two distinct areas that create different experiences. The first area is tall and open, allowing in plenty of natural light. This vertical space fosters a sense of elevation, inviting occupants to reflect and find stillness. The scale of the area makes one feel small in relation to the surrounding forest, encouraging moments of introspection.

The second area is more compact and functional, designed to bring occupants closer to the ground. Horizontal openings connect the interior with the earth, encouraging a return to everyday activities like resting and preparing food. This combination of spaces illustrates a thoughtful architectural approach, balancing moments of elevation with grounding routines.

Cultural Integration

Tea making is a central element of the design, merging cultural importance with sensory experiences. The practice provides a framework for social connection and personal mindfulness. Drinking tea enhances the senses, deepening the ties to memory and place while aligning with the project's goal of promoting present-moment awareness.

Material Performance

Material choice is central to the project’s ecological focus, with mycelium used for insulation. This naturally occurring material can be grown on-site, presenting an eco-friendly option that reduces environmental impact. Its compostable nature fosters energy efficiency, contributing to the cabin's overall performance by managing thermal comfort.

The living roof is another important feature, offering space to grow tea ingredients and regional plants. This green area supports the cultivation of edible varieties and also acts as a rainwater collection system, directing water for necessary uses within the cabin.

Through these design choices, the cabin connects architecture with the surrounding nature, framing views of the forest and shaping the experiences of its occupants. The relationship between built spaces and the natural environment enriches daily life, anchoring individuals in a deeper sense of presence and awareness amid the structure.

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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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