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Timber-Clad Retreat with Thatched Roofs and Integrated Gardens

Authors:
Meiri Miki Shinohara, Yu-hsiang Wang, Ryan Mu-jung Chiu, Hiroshi Takeyama
Timber-Clad Retreat with Thatched Roofs and Integrated Gardens
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Constructed with dark stained timber cladding and crowned by thatched roofs, the retreat harmonizes with its natural surroundings while providing dedicated spaces for meditation and communal activities.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with dark stained timber cladding for weather durability.
02
Includes thatched roofs to blend with the natural environment.
03
Features dedicated pavilions for varied meditation practices.
04
Utilizes a circular walking path connecting all functional areas.
05
Incorporates a vegetable garden promoting self-sustainability.

A Village of One's Own is an architectural endeavor set against a landscape that recalls traditional Latvian farmsteads. The design focuses on meditation, offering a retreat where individuals can reconnect with nature. This project comprises a series of small pavilions, each dedicated to specific functions, allowing visitors to experience tranquility in a thoughtfully arranged environment.

Conceptual Framework
The main idea of the design is to create spaces that encourage various forms of meditation and contemplation. The pavilions are arranged along a walking path, with dedicated areas for sleeping, workshops, outdoor cooking, and additional features like a jetty and garden. This layout helps foster an awareness of the surrounding environment, allowing visitors to move mindfully between different spaces.

Pavilion Layout
Each pavilion is positioned to enhance views and provide privacy. The overall arrangement resembles traditional farm layouts, creating a harmonious relationship between the buildings and the landscape. These smaller structures accommodate different activities while allowing for a natural flow between them. The layout emphasizes movement and exploration, making the path itself an important part of the experience.

Materiality
Materials selected for the project reflect local architectural practices, focusing on durability and comfort. Among the materials used are foil backed plasterboard, timber flooring, and thatched roofs. These choices not only respect the aesthetic traditions of the area but also improve energy efficiency, ensuring that the buildings are warm and inviting.

Design Integration
A key aspect of this design is the interaction between indoor and outdoor spaces. Visitors have the flexibility to choose where they would like to meditate or engage in activities. The mix of outdoor, semi-outdoor, and indoor areas encourages personal exploration and contemplation. Each pavilion acts as an extension of the landscape, contributing to a serene atmosphere that promotes reflection.

The buildings blend naturally into their surroundings, with thatched roofs echoing the nearby trees. Large rooflights flood the interiors with daylight, providing warmth and enhancing the calm ambiance throughout the day.

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Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

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