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Perforated Terracotta Facades and Timber Retreats for Mindful Healing

Authors:
Molly Jacobs, Bailey Bernheine
Perforated Terracotta Facades and Timber Retreats for Mindful Healing

Project in-detail

Perforated terracotta façades and heavy timber structures create a serene environment for holistic healing practices in a retreat designed for meditation and wellness.
5 key facts about this project
01
Perforated terracotta façades enhance natural ventilation while providing aesthetic warmth.
02
Rooftop meditation gardens create a direct connection with the surrounding forest landscape.
03
Heavy timber frames reflect local building traditions and ensure structural durability.
04
Self-sustaining features include solar panels and greywater recycling systems.
05
Access points are designed with painted stucco staircases that echo local architectural colors.

The Vale de Moses meditation cabin project is located on a hillside, surrounded by a rich forest landscape. It serves as a retreat focusing on wellness through various healing practices, such as massage, acupuncture, energy healing, and yoga. The design concept emphasizes both introspection and an engagement with nature, creating spaces that promote calmness and connection to the environment.

Spatial Organization

The meditation huts are arranged thoughtfully to support both individual reflection and group activities. Each hut acts as a peaceful space, encouraging users to engage in mindfulness. The design allows for a natural flow between the huts and the surrounding landscape, enhancing the overall experience and contributing to the retreat’s purpose.

Sustainable Design Elements

Rooftop meditation gardens are key to the project, highlighting sustainability and a deep respect for nature. These gardens visually connect with the environment, strengthening the relationship between architecture and its surroundings. The use of solar panels for energy and greywater systems for water management further supports modern ecological practices.

Materiality and Aesthetics

The choice of materials is important for achieving the desired atmosphere. The façades are made of perforated terracotta, allowing for natural ventilation and improved thermal comfort. Heavy timber framing contributes warmth to the interior while connecting with local building traditions. The combination of these materials creates a cohesive look that ties the structures to their natural setting.

Access and Interaction

Access to the meditation huts is facilitated by painted stucco staircases, which encourage movement between different levels. These staircases serve both functional and aesthetic purposes, reflecting local architectural styles through their colors. As visitors approach the rooftop gardens, the design details enhance their experience in this tranquil setting.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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