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Stone Walls and Solar Panels Creating a Harmonious Outdoor Yoga Studio

Authors:
Khalid Altamimi, Mariam Abdelaziz
Stone Walls and Solar Panels Creating a Harmonious Outdoor Yoga Studio

Project in-detail

With thick stone walls and integrated solar panels, the studio offers a peaceful space for yoga and meditation, fully connected to the natural landscape of Vale de Moses, Portugal.
5 key facts about this project
01
Yoga studio integrates outdoor platforms for classes and relaxation.
02
Thick stone walls provide natural insulation and aesthetic continuity.
03
Sustainable solar panels generate energy for studio operations.
04
Grey water recycling system irrigates surrounding gardens.
05
Functional zoning enhances user experience with a logical flow.

The Vale Yoga Studio is located in Vale de Moses, Portugal, where its design connects with the natural landscape and provides a space for yoga practice and meditation. The project emphasizes a harmonious relationship with its surroundings, promoting tranquility and wellness for those who visit. The design focuses on functionality through a clear organization of different areas that serve specific purposes.

Design Concept and Functional Zoning

The layout of the studio is divided into three key zones: pre, during, and post. The pre-zone includes essential facilities like storage, washrooms, showers, and changing rooms. This area is arranged to facilitate easy movement, ensuring that users can navigate the space without disruption. Its practical design makes it an integral part of the overall experience.

The during zone is home to the main yoga studio, dedicated to practice and meditation. In this space, additional storage has been thoughtfully embedded in thickened stone walls. This design choice allows the studio to maintain an open and inviting atmosphere while still providing the necessary functionality for personal items.

Outdoor Integration and Sustainability

The post zone features a kitchenette and has direct access to outdoor platforms that connect the building to the surrounding landscape. These areas encourage users to engage with nature, either through outdoor yoga sessions or by simply relaxing in a calm environment. Such integration allows the studio to extend its functions beyond four walls.

Sustainability plays a significant role in the studio's design. The ceiling is equipped with solar panels that generate clean energy, meeting the building's electricity needs. A water management system also collects grey water from the washrooms and showers, using it for irrigation of nearby plants, which emphasizes a practical approach to eco-friendliness.

Operable doors enhance natural air circulation, ensuring a steady flow of fresh air inside the studio. This design choice encourages a direct connection between the indoors and outdoors. It creates an atmosphere where users can appreciate the beauty of Vale de Moses while enjoying their practice.

Each aspect of the design is carefully considered to support both user experience and environmental responsibility. The outdoor platforms, in particular, offer inviting spaces that promote relaxation amid the natural beauty of the area, fulfilling the studio's role as a sanctuary for wellness.

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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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