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Polycarbonate Retreat Utilizing Nature-Inspired Insulation for Urban Meditation

Authors:
Patrycja Migała, Filip Bielecki
Polycarbonate Retreat Utilizing Nature-Inspired Insulation for Urban Meditation

Project in-detail

The meditation cabin employs a polycarbonate structure that transitions from transparent to opaque for privacy, utilizing cork and PUR foam for insulation, to create a focused environment for urban relaxation.
5 key facts about this project
01
The cabin can be activated through a mobile app that controls its features.
02
It transitions from transparency to opacity, ensuring user privacy.
03
Users can customize the environment with five different lighting and sound settings.
04
The structure is designed for modular placement in various urban environments.
05
Insulation is provided by cork and PUR foam, enhancing comfort during use.

Openmind is a meditation cabin designed to meet the needs of urban residents in Tokyo. It provides a private space for mindfulness and relaxation amid the busy city life. The design emphasizes modularity, allowing it to be placed in various locations while ensuring ease of use and access for all.

Integration of Technology

The cabin is operated through a mobile application. Users activate it by placing their phone on a dedicated charging panel. This action causes the cabin door to close automatically and turns on ambient light and sound, creating a calm atmosphere conducive to meditation. This integration makes it simple for individuals to engage with the space in a familiar way.

Personalized User Experience

Inside, users can adjust their meditation environment using a control panel that offers five different lighting and sound options. This feature allows people to create a setting that best suits their preferences. Each meditation session lasts for 25 minutes, providing users with a defined time frame to focus on mindfulness while still allowing flexibility in the experience.

Material Considerations

The design incorporates polycarbonate panels, chosen for their lightweight nature and ability to diffuse light. These materials ensure that the cabin remains functional while providing the privacy users expect. Additionally, cork and PUR foam are used for insulation, enhancing comfort within the cabin. These material choices reflect an understanding of how to create a suitable environment for relaxation.

As individuals enter the cabin, they experience a shift from a transparent to an opaque environment, allowing them to immerse themselves fully in their meditation practice. This design detail highlights the importance of personal space in a bustling urban 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
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