Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Trees Enveloped in Wood Creating an Immersive Meditation Retreat

Author:
Şeyda Ünal
Trees Enveloped in Wood Creating an Immersive Meditation Retreat
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Enveloped by trees, a wooden framework supports a retreat cabin designed for immersive meditation, enhancing individual awareness while respecting the natural landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Enveloped by existing trees, the design preserves their natural integrity while providing structural support.
02
The use of wood throughout the framework emphasizes sustainability and ecological compatibility.
03
Vertical circulation allows users to experience different heights and perspectives within the forest.
04
Pathways are shaped by the branches and leaves, creating a unique navigational experience.
05
A retreat cabin serves as a secluded space for reflection and basic needs, enhancing the meditative focus.

The meditation space is set in the tranquil landscape of Latvia, designed specifically for Vipassana practices. The focus is on enhancing personal awareness and fostering a connection with nature. The layout integrates natural elements into the design, allowing for a strong relationship between the built environment and the forest that surrounds it.

Structural Integration of Trees

Trees are key elements in the design, serving both as visual features and structural supports. The framework is built around the trees using wood, a choice that allows them to hold up the structure without harming them. This approach emphasizes sustainability, letting the natural landscape play an important role in shaping the architecture.

Navigational Experience

The design creates a navigational experience through the careful arrangement of floors, façades, and covers. This setup provides distinct perspectives and maintains clear views of the surrounding forest. Users can move vertically through the space, allowing them to observe the landscape from different heights and angles, which enhances engagement with their environment.

Circulation Paths and Meditative Journey

Paths are designed in relation to the branches and leaves of the trees, creating an engaging journey for users. As individuals walk through these paths, they embark on a meditative adventure that leads to a retreat cabin. This cabin meets basic needs, such as shelter and sanitation, and acts as a quiet space for reflection, reinforcing the importance of connecting with nature.

Attention to detail is evident in the cabin design. Open connections to the outside allow natural light and sounds to enter, enhancing the meditative quality of the experience. This thoughtful design fosters a deep engagement with the natural world while providing a peaceful environment.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

Vancouver Tall Challenge: Building Higher Downtown

`
Competition organisers

The Vancouver Tall Challenge: Building Higher Downtown is an international architecture competition organized by Buildner in collaboration with the City of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA). The competition invites architects, designers, planners, and creative thinkers to explore innovative approaches to tall buildings in Vancouver’s downtown core, focusing on sustainability, livability, urban density, public space, and the city’s strong connection to nature. As Vancouver continues to grow, participants are challenged to rethink how vertical development can enhance urban life and contribute to a more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient city identity.

The competition offers a total prize fund of $15,000 CAD, with winning proposals selected by an international jury of architects, planners, academics, and city-building professionals. Key dates include the final registration deadline on October 29, 2026, submission deadline on November 30, 2026, and winners announcement on January 26, 2027. Full competition details, requirements, and registration information are available at architecturecompetitions.com/VancouverTallChallenge

Vancouver Tall Challenge

Design the future of Vancouver’s skyline

Building higher downtown ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 29 October 2026

Open architecture competitions

  • Closest deadline first
  • Project competitions first
    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
New York High Falls 
Riverfront Market

Design a New Riverfront Market in Rochester, New York

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 7 October 2026
Valli Wine 
Tasting Room

Design a wine tasting room in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 8 October 2026
The 
Quiet 
Tower

Design an observation tower in Latvia

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 15 October 2026
Vancouver 
Tall Challenge

Design the future of Vancouver’s skyline

Building higher downtown ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 29 October 2026
The Oak 
Moon 
Pavilion

Design a yoga pavilion in Italy

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 5 November 2026
Portugal Long Table 
Restaurant

Design a slow-living restaurant in Portugal

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 9 December 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 28 October 2026
Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #9 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 12 November 2026
The 
Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Stockholm Furniture Fair Edition #6 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award + Exhibition at Stockholm Furniture Fair
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 3 December 2026
new
Buildner's Unbuilt Award

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a 50,000€ prize

50,000€ Prize / 2027 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 50,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 4 February 2027

Media, partners and clients

To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in