Tiny Kiwi
Meditation Cabin

Competition introduction

Competition organisers

In Partnership With

Earth Energies Sanctuary in New Zealand is a wellness retreat designed to bring about balance of body, mind and soul, set within 200 acres of stunning natural landscape that is ideal for seclusion, relaxation and experiencing nature. The sanctuary features a secluded, private, 2-bedroom cabin where guests can enjoy spectacular, awe-inspiring 360-degree views.


The Earth Energies Sanctuary is located on a 200-acre farm in New Zealand
During their stay, guests can be assured of total privacy, as the nearest residence is more than 800 meters away from the cabin. Earth Energies offers self-catered or chef-prepared meals, as well as access to deep relaxation therapies to help release stress and anxiety and everything that is necessary for better sleep.


Guests at the sanctuary stay in a secluded cabin with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and stunning 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside. Designed for seclusion and relaxation, the cabin allows guests to relax in a bath while gazing over leafy tree views, or curl up next to the wood fire and unwind.

The Earth Energies offers a powerful combination of deep relaxation therapies designed to bring clients to an alpha or even deeper theta brainwave state, thus restoring balance essential for optimum relaxation, creativity, insight and mindfulness.

Earth Energies Sanctuary Retreat founders Marie and Duncan
The Tiny Kiwi Meditation Cabin competition is the first architecture competition to be run in partnership with Earth Energies New Zealand. Participants are tasked with submitting designs for a meditation space to be constructed in a bush clearing on site. The proposed location sits roughly 300 meters downhill from the main residence with no established roads, therefore it can only be accessed by foot.


The proposed site is located in a sacred spot within a clearing surrounded by native trees
The cabin should be able to accommodate up to 4 guests plus a meditation guide for 1 to 2 hours during the day or in the evening. This space is not intended to act as accommodation and therefore does not require any amenities or facilities other than those needed to run a meditation session.


When the space isn’t being used for meditation, it will be used to process flower essences to be used in their natural products, and so will need to be able to direct sunlight onto a small altar for at least 2 or 3 hours of the day.
As winning designs for the Tiny Kiwi Meditation Cabin will be considered for construction, it is vital that they reflect the highest standards of green building practice.

Download full competition brief for more information!

Competition is open to all. No professional qualification is required. Design proposals can be developed individually or by teams (4 team members maximum). Correspondence with organizers must be conducted in English; All information submitted by participants must be in English