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Woven Walls and Earth Tones in a Tranquil Meditation Retreat

Authors:
Steven Loutherback, Benjamin Dossett
Woven Walls and Earth Tones in a Tranquil Meditation Retreat

Project in-detail

Woven walls echo the surrounding landscape while earth tones enhance the meditative atmosphere of cabins designed for reflection and communal tea preparation.
5 key facts about this project
01
Woven walls create a unique texture that integrates with natural surroundings.
02
Wayfinding devices link cabin access to specific tea plants, enhancing sensory engagement.
03
Adjustable lighting systems allow users to personalize their meditation environment.
04
The cabins are designed for both active and passive meditation practices.
05
Earth tones in materials reflect the colors of the local landscape, promoting a sense of calm.

The Ozolini tea farm is located in the calm Latvian countryside and reflects the close relationship between tea making and meditation. It offers a design that emphasizes peaceful spaces for personal reflection as well as communal interaction. The meditation cabins are arranged thoughtfully throughout the landscape, enhancing the bond between nature and the built environment, while encouraging visitors to connect with both their surroundings and their inner thoughts.

Spatial Organization and Functionality

The arrangement of the meditation cabins supports different forms of meditation, including both passive and active practices. These structures serve as more than mere shelters; they create environments that express the processes associated with tea, from growing to brewing. This connection to tea highlights its cultural importance within the region and promotes a setting that encourages both contemplation and connection with nature.

Materials and Aesthetic Considerations

Materials used in this design are significant, with an emphasis on earth tones found in the woven walls and burgundy structural components. These colors relate closely to the natural landscape, creating a calming environment that is well-suited for meditation. The material choices not only enhance the visual appeal but also inspire a sense of spirituality and place, which is key to experiencing the countryside.

Interactive Elements and User Experience

Innovative features enhance the experience for visitors, such as wayfinding devices that help guide individuals to their meditation cabins. These devices are linked to specific tea plants, encouraging a deeper connection between the visitor and the environment. The cabins also have adjustable lighting systems, allowing users to set the mood according to their needs during meditation.

As visitors interact with the open spaces, vertical screens, and sky doors, they will notice the effect of light and nature intertwined with their meditative activities. Soft, natural light spilling into the cabins interacts beautifully with the warm indoor tones, creating an environment that feels both inviting and tranquil. Each cabin serves as a quiet retreat, reinforcing the harmony between the structure and the forest that surrounds it.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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