Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Stone Sanctuary with Patterned Windows for Reflective Living

Author:
Karolina Zylka
Stone Sanctuary with Patterned Windows for Reflective Living

Project in-detail

The design incorporates stone and patterned windows to create a reflective living space that fosters community engagement and connection with nature for temporary residents seeking wellness.
5 key facts about this project
01
Stone façade contrasts with white surfaces for a balanced aesthetic.
02
Patterned windows reference Latvian folk costumes, enhancing cultural connection.
03
Meditation rooms provide a secure and calming environment for personal reflection.
04
Landscaping includes ponds for cultural symbolism and aesthetic appeal.
05
A vegetable garden with ecological irrigation supports sustainable living practices.

The House for Nature Lovers is located in the calm landscape of Latvia, designed to work in harmony with its surroundings. It serves as a temporary home for yogis, emphasizing wellness and community. The building creates a peaceful space for reflection and connection, integrating ecological awareness with cultural elements, allowing residents to engage with both the natural world and local traditions.

Materiality

The structure prominently features stone, which contrasts with clean white surfaces. This mix helps tie the building to its landscape. The choice of stone gives it a sense of strength and permanence, while lighter materials contribute to an open feeling. This balance helps the building visually merge with the environment.

Cultural Integration

A defining feature is the use of elongated windows inspired by local folk costumes. These windows are placed to enhance the vertical lines of the design, mirroring traditional Latvian attire. Including these cultural patterns creates a connection to local identity and history.

Spatial Organization

Inside, meditation rooms in the stone section provide a secure and calm space. The minimalist design fosters warmth, encouraging introspection and personal expression. The arrangement of both shared and private areas supports community interaction as well as private moments of reflection.

Landscaping Considerations

Landscaping plays a key role in the overall experience. Ponds are included in the design for their beauty and cultural significance, especially during local celebrations. Additionally, a terrace among the trees offers space for social gatherings and quiet contemplation. A vegetable garden, equipped with an ecological irrigation system, emphasizes a commitment to sustainable living.

Large windows allow plenty of natural light and frame views of the surrounding landscape. This design choice strengthens the connection between the interior and the outdoors, enriching the experience for those who stay.

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

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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