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Timber Cabins with Garden Thresholds for Reflective Retreats

Authors:
Frank Romero, Jacob Schneck, Ryan Goold, Aaron Grunwald
Timber Cabins with Garden Thresholds for Reflective Retreats

Project in-detail

Timber cabins with traditional wood joinery and garden thresholds create a serene setting for meditation, emphasizing a deep connection to the surrounding forest and river valley.
5 key facts about this project
01
Timber structure allows seamless integration with the surrounding environment.
02
Garden thresholds enhance sensory engagement with nature.
03
Flexible interiors accommodate varied meditation styles.
04
Strategic placement maximizes views of the river valley.
05
Traditional wood joinery reflects regional craftsmanship.

Prospect & Refuge Meditation Cabins are located on a sloping terrace that provides views of a river valley. The design aims to create a calm and restorative environment for meditation. By blending architecture with nature, the cabins enhance the visitor experience and promote relaxation. The main ideas behind the project focus on feelings of safety and connection to the landscape, guiding visitors from outside to spaces meant for quiet reflection.

Architecture Concept

The concept behind the cabins combines the ideas of safety and outward view. This balance allows visitors to move easily from the surrounding nature into the restful interiors of the cabins. The design provides private spaces while maintaining a link to the outside world. Each cabin has a flexible layout to suit different types of activities and personal preferences, ensuring that the spaces feel personal and inviting.

Design and Functionality

The arrangement of the cabins takes advantage of the hillside's natural features, which helps to maximize views towards the southwest. Three cabins extend toward the open landscape, allowing guests to enjoy the natural beauty around them. A fourth cabin is placed against a stone wall, creating a more intimate and focused area for meditation. Each cabin serves a specific purpose for visitors seeking peace and reflection, aligning with the goals of the nearby retreat.

Materiality

The materials used in the cabins feature a simple timber structure built with traditional wood joinery methods. This approach not only helps reduce environmental impact but also connects the design to local building traditions. The cabins are made to blend into the landscape, offering a sturdy yet welcoming presence without overpowering the natural surroundings.

Each cabin includes a garden threshold that invites visitors to transition from the outside world into a space for meditation and calm. The interiors are designed with sliding and rotating screens, allowing for flexibility that can adapt to various needs. This thoughtful design ensures that every visit results in a peaceful and healing connection to the environment.

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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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