Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Natural Light and Concrete Core Create Tranquil Yoga Retreat

Authors:
Thomas Peters, Buse Serbetci, Aksel Kemahlioglu
Natural Light and Concrete Core Create Tranquil Yoga Retreat
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
A concrete core supports a serene yoga space illuminated by natural light, creating a tranquil retreat that invites introspection in a carefully crafted garden environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Designed as a spiritual garden retreat emphasizing introspection.
02
The path features a protective roof that guides visitors from the exterior to the interior.
03
Natural light floods the yoga space, enhancing the daily rhythm of practice.
04
Concrete walls blend with earthy materials to create a sense of enclosure.
05
Visitors are invited to walk barefoot on warm wooden floors for a tactile experience.

Vale de Moses is a carefully designed retreat located in a peaceful valley, focusing on the connection between architecture and nature. It serves as a garden for the spirit, encouraging visitors to reflect and connect with themselves and their surroundings. The design revolves around three main elements: the path, the enclosure, and the enclosed space, allowing for a smooth transition from the outside world into a calming internal atmosphere.

The Path

The experience begins with the path, an important feature that welcomes people into the retreat. This pathway links the mountainous landscape with the serene spaces within Vale de Moses. It acts as a transition point, shifting visitors' focus from the busy outside to a more peaceful environment for meditation and self-discovery. The roof that extends over the path provides a sense of shelter, guiding individuals gently towards a more intimate area.

The Enclosure

The design features a dual enclosure that combines the natural earth of the forest on one side with a concrete structure on the other. This blend creates a transitional area representative of both the landscape and architecture. The earthy walls in the distance offer protection while adding to the feeling of being surrounded by nature. As guests enter, they are encouraged to remove their shoes. This simple act allows them to connect more deeply with the smooth wooden floor beneath their feet, enhancing their sensory experience of the space.

The Enclosed Space

At the heart of Vale de Moses lies the yoga space, thoughtfully positioned to make the most of natural light. The sun fills the room with warmth as it rises and gradually dims as evening approaches. This interplay of light and shadow emphasizes the rhythm of the day, creating a welcoming environment for introspection. The yoga space represents a blend of the physical and spiritual, inviting visitors to explore the balance between these aspects in their practice.

The Materials

Materials for the retreat include concrete and wood, each carefully chosen for their contributions to the experience. Concrete offers durability and forms the core structure of the enclosure, while wood provides warmth and comfort to the interiors. This combination highlights the aim of connecting with nature, making the retreat a restorative environment.

As light enters the yoga space, it dances across the wooden surfaces, creating a calming atmosphere that encourages visitors to engage fully with their surroundings.

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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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
The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

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 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