Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Sinuous Concrete and Wood Retreat Surrounded by Zen Gardens

Authors:
Barbara Paz Rossi Maturana, Nicolò Marcon
Sinuous Concrete and Wood Retreat Surrounded by Zen Gardens
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Set against a cliffside, the retreat's sinuous concrete and wood structure integrates two serene Zen gardens, providing a tranquil space for yoga, meditation, and wellness activities.
5 key facts about this project
01
Embraces the cliffside terrain with a sinuous form.
02
Integrates two distinct Zen gardens for meditation and reflection.
03
Single corridor design enhances natural light and circulation.
04
Dedicated areas for wellness support include a kitchen and lounge.
05
Features a rooftop lookout for panoramic valley views.

YOGA HOUSE ON A CLIFF combines architecture with the natural landscape, situated in a high location that connects with the sky. The purpose is to create a space for yoga, meditation, and health activities, focusing on the bond between the building and its surroundings. The design promotes an environment that encourages wellness and a deeper relationship with nature.

Architectural Layout

Covering 179 square meters, the building is divided into two main areas. Half of the space is dedicated to an open yoga area, while the other half includes essential services like bathrooms, showers, and changing rooms. A central corridor links these facilities, improving how people move through the space. This corridor features a large skylight that brings in natural light, enhancing the atmosphere within.



Spatial Connections

A smaller volume juts out towards the landscape, allowing for more natural light and offering views of the valley below. This section is used for yoga practices, while a kitchen and lounge area nearby provide comfort for breaks and refreshments. The design integrates outdoor gardens, inviting nature into the experience and reinforcing the focus on wellness.



Zen Garden Design

The gardens reflect Zen principles, incorporating natural features like gravel, stones, and native plants. Two specific Zen gardens are included, inspired by the Japanese arid garden. The first garden, located at the entrance, uses gravel to represent water and includes small stones that form the constellation of Ursa Major. The second garden, accessible from the yoga room, highlights the constellation of Ursa Minor, marked by a significant stone symbolizing the North Star.



Material Selection

The choice of materials contributes to the overall design of YOGA HOUSE ON A CLIFF. Concrete provides the necessary strength, while wood adds warmth, promoting a connection to the environment. Stone elements ground the building in its natural setting, and glass is used to maximize light, creating a visual link between inside and out.

The lookout on the roof offers an open view of the surrounding landscape, enriching the connection to nature in the experience of the space.

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

Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge #8

Mujassam Watan Urban Sculpture Challenge #8

Design iconic urban sculptures for the prestigious Mujassam Watan competition and compete for 50,000 €

50,000 € PRIZE project COMPETITION
Prize 50,000 + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 23 July 2026

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
Portugal Long Table 
Restaurant

Design a slow-living restaurant in Portugal

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 8 July 2026
new

Design the future of Vancouver’s skyline

Building higher downtown ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 15 July 2026
new
The Quiet 
Tower

Design an observation tower in Latvia

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 22 July 2026
Mujassam Watan 
Urban Sculpture Challenge #8

Design iconic urban sculptures for the prestigious Mujassam Watan competition and compete for 50,000 €

50,000 € PRIZE project COMPETITION
Prize 50,000 + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 23 July 2026
new
New York High Falls 
Riverfront Market

Design a New Riverfront Market in Rochester, New York

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 29 July 2026
new
Valli Wine 
Tasting Room

Design a wine tasting room in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 30 July 2026
Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 16 September 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #8 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 18 June 2026
new
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 18 June 2026
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 #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 2 July 2026
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
Advance registration deadline 9 July 2026
Underbridge #2

Design housing in underutilized bridge spaces

Affordable Housing Edition #20 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 July 2026
MICROHOME 2026

Design a new concept of small-scale home and share a prize fund of 100,000€

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 September 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