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Translucent Fusuma Facades in a Tranquil Urban Retreat

Authors:
Lucas Frutoso, marion leger, yaelle bouvard, sakina guernane
Translucent Fusuma Facades in a Tranquil Urban Retreat

Project in-detail

The use of translucent fusuma facades creates a serene atmosphere within this wooden meditation cabin, allowing light to filter through while providing a peaceful retreat for reflection in the heart of Tokyo.
5 key facts about this project
01
The cabin features two distinct meditation rooms for varied user experiences.
02
Translucent fusuma facades allow soft natural light while ensuring privacy.
03
Constructed with a wooden post system, connecting to traditional Japanese architecture.
04
The cabin's light emission at night resembles a lantern, enhancing its calming presence.
05
Designed to blend into the urban landscape, resembling seashells along the shore.

The Sheru meditation cabin is located in the busy center of Tokyo, a city where everyday life often rushes past without pause. It serves as a space for meditation, offering people a chance to take a break and reconnect with their thoughts in an otherwise hectic environment. The design aims to provide a calming contrast to the lively urban backdrop, creating a peaceful refuge in the city.

Spatial Configuration
The cabin features two separate rooms, each designed to create a distinct mood for meditation. This setup allows users to choose the atmosphere that suits their needs, whether they prefer deep focus or light relaxation. The layout prioritizes tranquility and personal connection, essential for effective meditation.

Light and Atmosphere
Light is a key element in the cabin's design. The fusuma paper facades allow natural light to filter into the space while keeping it private. During the day, the soft light creates a soothing atmosphere, enhancing the experience of mindfulness. In the evening, the cabin glows gently, resembling a lantern and inviting users to engage in their evening routines of reflection. This careful manipulation of light enriches the space's peaceful quality.

Material and Structure
The cabin is constructed using a wooden post system, linking it to traditional Japanese architecture. This material choice strengthens the structure and provides warmth to the interior. The wood creates a sense of comfort, connecting users to their surroundings, whether they are meditating or simply escaping the city noise.

The design exemplifies the concept of inner peace, ensuring that individuals have a quiet place to reflect. The Sheru cabin stands as a sanctuary where the weight of the urban environment is lifted, leaving space for thoughts and contemplation to flourish.

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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

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