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Translucent Shell with Flexible Openings for Meditation Retreat

Author:
可月 司
Translucent Shell with Flexible Openings for Meditation Retreat

Project in-detail

The design integrates a translucent shell with adjustable openings to create a serene environment that invites users to engage in meditation and self-reflection.
5 key facts about this project
01
The structure is designed as a flexible retreat that adapts to various user needs.
02
Adjustable openings allow for personalized views of the surrounding environment.
03
A white translucent shell contributes to a calm and diffused lighting effect.
04
Removable cushions enhance comfort during meditation sessions.
05
Integration of LED strip lighting provides adjustable ambiance for differing activities.

The design presents a space known as a "shell," where individuals can find solitude and peace amidst a busy environment. Located in a context that encourages personal reflection, the space serves as a quiet retreat for meditation and introspection. The overall design focuses on the balance between inner tranquility and the connection to the surrounding natural world.

Sphere Geometry

The shape of the structure is spherical, representing continuity and endless possibility. This geometric choice allows users to feel centered within their experience. The smooth curves invite movement and curiosity, encouraging exploration. Inside, the design creates an environment that promotes reflection and a sense of calm.

Adaptable Openings

One of the key features is an opening that users can adjust, allowing them to connect with the outside world in different ways. Whether viewing the sky, observing trees, or noticing the ground, this flexibility enables a customized experience. Users can engage with nature at their own pace, building a sense of harmony between the sheltering space and the expansive environment around it.

Material Selection

Material choices are significant in shaping the feel of the design. A white translucent material forms the shell, letting soft light filter through and creating a tranquil ambiance. This choice helps dissolve the barriers between inside and outside, fostering a spacious, airy feeling. Additionally, a removable seat cushion adds comfort, while LED lighting and sconces with easy-to-reach switches allow users to control the room's mood.

Functional Versatility

The versatility of the design allows it to serve multiple purposes, fitting the needs of various activities and group sizes. This aspect emphasizes the importance of creating spaces that can adapt. Structural elements like the gray surface and supporting features ensure durability while maintaining functional flexibility, providing a reliable space for reflection and connection.

Within the shell, the soft glow of light creates a warm atmosphere that changes throughout the day, casting gentle shadows that enhance the experience of calm and contemplation.

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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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