Introduction
The Vale de Moses Yoga Retreat receives hundreds of annual guests from around the world, who visit in search of a meditative and natural experience in the mountainous pine and eucalyptus forests of central Portugal.
The infrastructure of the remote site consists of four stone farmhouse cottages, once abandoned, but then carefully repurposed and given new life. The Vale De Moses Meditation Cabins challenge is the first in a series of competitions in partnership with Vale de Moses, seeking design ideas for the construction of additional structures for meditation, yoga, and other activities on the site.
Participants were tasked here with submitting designs for a replicable ‘cabin’ for guest treatments and meditation sessions. The cabin is to be a space that allows guests to connect with the surrounding forest and gardens as part of a meditative and personal experience. Each cabin should provide sufficient space for one guest and one therapist.
This competition is part of Bee Breeders’ small-scale design competition series, focused on concepts, ideas, and material explorations for sustainable, compact projects that relate intimately to the scale of the human body. This focus is based on the notion that even the smallest projects can contain big ideas for the practice of architecture. Several of the winning projects will be exhibited in future publications by ARCHHIVE Books, which question What is Small-Scale Architecture?
The competition received hundreds of excellent submissions from around the world, with proposals offering ideas ranging from 3D-printed pods to site-extracted stone and rammed earth structures. The winning entries displayed below were selected by the jury for their outstanding material and experiential qualities, for their ability to be implemented for construction, as well as for the quality of their advanced drawing and means of presentation.
Bee Breeders thanks all of the participants for their time and contribution to this library of small-scale, sustainable design solutions.
We sincerely thank our jury panel
for their time and expertise
Gonzalo Lopez
knitknot architecture
USA
1st Prize Winner
VagaLume
The projects proposed in the competitions are incredibly diverse, which allow us to open up new horizons in the practice of the profession. Indeed, on one hand, we are confronted with other realities by discovering different cultures, geographies, local practices and challenges, which open our eyes to the foreign world. On the other hand, participating in competitions fosters a positive and proactive attitude that stimulates creativity in addition to enriching our knowledge.
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Belgium
Jury feedback summary
This winning project consists of two stacked 2.9-meter cubes: at the ground level, a glass-enclosed therapy space, just large enough to house a massage table; and above, an open-air meditation space within a dense lattice of cork. The lattice structure is accessed by a ladder and supports a constellation of paper lanterns, in the vein of the japanese ‘kake-andon’. The jury writes: “A ‘lantern on the landscape’, the project is evocative and manages to create a distinctive and beautiful proposal that also resonates with its surroundings.” The perspective drawings are atmospheric, focusing on the scale of the body as well as the relationship with nature.
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2nd Prize Winner
Komorebi
We participate in architecture vision competitions as a means for unconstrained design exploration. These competitions allow us to dive into our own interests in architecture, space, and construction without the usual limitations of a standard project structure.
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United States
Jury feedback summary
“Komorebi”, as the project is titled, refers to the sunlight filtered through the leaves of a tree, or the curtain of light visible after the rain. Importance is given here to spatial sequencing - one begins within a small changing room cabin, then wanders along a tree-lined approach trail, before passing through a narrow corridor and crossing below a low threshold, and finally entering upon a meditation space and courtyard garden open to the sky. The axonometric is accompanied by a text narrative describing the experience as a story told in the first person. The materiality is relevant to the site - charred wood panels, polycarbonate, timber and gravel. The black-and-white drawings are excellent in their depiction of light and shadow.
3rd Prize Winner
komorebi
We would like to examine new ideas, experience different design conditions, and expand our opportunities, which is not always possible.
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Japan
Jury feedback summary
The project is a successful exploration in form. A circular platform topped by a three-sided, fragmented, and pyramidal roof supported by a wood frame. The jury writes: “The project establishes a very interesting relationship with the environment, and it manages to convey the sense of spirituality and tranquility.” The envelope peels back at points to provide glimpses to the natural surroundings, and to allow the entrance of light. The jury questions whether the project could do without the glass floor, and if the space could use more natural light on dark days. The renderings are helpful in describing the forms as reminiscent of a collection of trees dotting the mountainous landscape.
BB STUDENT AWARD
Meditation "h"earth
Architecture competitions are a way to express our creativity and let our imagination run free. These competitions allow us to develop our architectural design skills and project representation. Furthermore, these are an endless source of inspiration which enable us to begin our professional career. In a very competitive architectural world, this is also a way to have more visibility.
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BB GREEN AWARD
INSIDE THE EARTH
Participating in architecture vision competitions is a great way for us to keep creative and challenge ourselves. It is a unique opportunity to work on special projects from all over the world, that might not be as accessible otherwise. We, as an architect and a designer, think it is important to never stop thinking outside the box and be 100% open-minded. Competition projects from all over the world can challenge our creativity, give us new, fresh inspiration and change our perspective on things we thought we knew. It keeps our curiosity flowing, trains our creative mind and helps to define our individual style and strengths as an architect and designer even more.
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Germany
Client Favorite
The Spirit of Vale de Moses
Architecture competitions are fantastic thought exercises that help verify the understanding of the aforementioned criteria. Since they attract a lot of talent and ambition, they expand what we know about architecture and its impact.
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United Kingdom
Honorable Mentions
Shortlisted projects
Prana Cabins
Brazil Project ID 27705
Leaf Cab
New Valley
INSIDE THE EARTH
Lirio d'Agua
meditation cabin
Casa Engawa
Inhabiting Walls
Strata
VagaLume
CORTIÇA CABIN
Transition, a moment of passage between realities
PASITHÉA
kubik
Meditation Cabins
POLEIRO
leve mente
Arise
Remember that time in the valley?
eloquent silences
The retaining wall
Pneuma
VERNACULAR REFUGE
Komorebi
Meditation "h"earth
The Spirit of Vale de Moses
Forest Breathing
Vale de Moses Meditation Cabin
The Hulling Cabin
Moses Dog
Komorebi
Luna
MOEBIUS
Vale de Moses Meditation Cabins
Telhado
komorebi
inside|out
ROOT / RISE
Reconnecting The Link
