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Sunken Cabins of Board-Formed Concrete Emphasizing Introspection and Community Living

Authors:
Amanda Shin, Melissa Shin
Sunken Cabins of Board-Formed Concrete Emphasizing Introspection and Community Living

Project in-detail

Sunken into the earth, the cabins constructed from board-formed concrete create a meditative environment that fosters introspection while building a sense of community among visitors.
5 key facts about this project
01
Sunken cabin design enhances connection with the land.
02
Board-formed concrete creates a tactile, solid interior.
03
Clusters of three cabins foster meditative community spaces.
04
Shared amenities include campfires for communal gatherings.
05
Intentionally minimalistic layout promotes introspection and quiet.

Primitives Huts blends architecture with the natural landscape to create a space focused on silence and solitude. Located in a serene environment, the project features individual cabins that are sunken into the ground. This design choice allows the structures to connect with their surroundings while encouraging visitors to leave their daily routines behind and embrace meditation.

Materials and Construction

Board-formed concrete is the main material used for the construction of the huts. This choice offers durability and a strong tactile quality inside each cabin. The concrete creates a feeling of solidity and anchors the structures in place. Complementing this is a light wood-framed roof that introduces warmth and a visual contrast, enhancing the relationship between the huts and the environment above.

Spatial Organization

The layout consists of clusters, with three cabins grouped together to form small meditation communities. Each cabin is designed to offer privacy while sharing essential amenities such as campfires and dry toilets. This arrangement strikes a balance between social engagement and personal time, allowing visitors to connect with one another while still finding their own moments of reflection.

Integration with Landscape

The lowering of the cabins into the landscape minimizes their visual impact. This subtle approach helps them blend harmoniously with the surrounding nature. Clear paths throughout the site guide visitors from shared spaces to their individual cabins. Such thoughtful placement encourages a direct interaction with the outdoors, enhancing the immersive experience for all who stay.

The design carefully combines both open and enclosed spaces, promoting an atmosphere of calm and quiet. Each cabin serves as a personal retreat, differing in spatial qualities, which ensures that every visitor experiences a unique moment of contemplation and connection with nature.

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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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