Introduction
Buildner is happy to announce the results of its Yoga House in the Bog international design competition!
For this event, designers were asked to submit ideas for a yoga house to be located in a Latvian bog on a forested site adjacent to the Baltic Sea. The yoga house is intended to connect guests with the natural surroundings. The brief requested designs for a small building that interacts harmoniously with its unique and sensitive environment, one with the potential to be both iconic and a positive example of green building practices.
Buildner collaborated with an international jury with rich experiences designing buildings of this scale and ambition: Xuanru Chen is a lead architect at Shanghai-based ZJJZ Atelier; Olha Kleytman is Founder of SBM studio based in Kharkiv, Ukraine; Nicolas Lapierre is Founding Partner of Atelier L'Abri, a Montreal based architecture studio specializing in ecological, healthy and sustainable construction; Marco Lavit founded his architecture and design practice, Atelier LAVIT, in Paris in 2014; Anna Maria Orrù works in biomimicry, artistic/design research and in curating performative ‘hands-on’ research, providing alternative approaches to ecological design and sustainability, and is an Affiliated Senior Lecturer at Konstfack – University of Arts, Crafts and Design and co-founder of Nordic Biomimicry, a center dedicated to collaborating with nature as a mentor, measure and method; Judson Moore is the Design Director at Portland, Oregon-based Waechter Architecture; Carine Pimenta, Daniel Zamarbide and Galliane Zamarbide are architects and Partner of Geneva and Lisbon based BUREAU; Tom Schroeder is a senior architect with Patkau Architects and a guest critic / adjunct faculty at the University of British Columbia; and Yimeng Teng is a project architect at Ro Rockett Design, an award winning design firm based in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Aspen.
Buildner and its jury were impressed by the quality of submissions. They would like to extend their thanks to each of the participating teams and congratulate the winners!
We sincerely thank our jury panel
for their time and expertise
Alexandra Barker
Barker Associates Architecture Office - baao
USA
Xuanru Chen
architect at ZJJZ Atelier
China
Olha Kleytman
Founder of SBM studio
Ukraine
Nicolas Lapierre
Founding Partner of Atelier L'Abri
Canada
Marco Lavit
founder of Atelier LAVIT
France
Judson Moore
Design Director at Waechter Architecture
USA
Anna Maria Orrù
Co-founder/director, Nordic Biomimicry and Affiliated Senior Lecturer in design ecology, Konstfack
Sweden
Tom Schroeder
Patkau Architects
Canada
Yimeng Teng
architect at Ro Rockett Design
USA
Sam Brown
O’DonnellBrown
Scotland
Daniel Zamarbide
partner at BUREAU
Switzerland
Carine Pimenta
partner at BUREAU
Switzerland
Galliane Zamarbide
partner at BUREAU
Switzerland
1st Prize Winner
SAT house
This is the first time we have taken part in such an architectural competition. We are interested in the topic of a conscious ecological approach in tourism and construction, as well as the beauty of the nature of the Latvian coast. This topic combines our love for nature and interest in spiritual practices. Additionally, in this difficult time, we feel that we have the strength and energy to open new opportunities for our studio professionally. Participation in such competitions provides an opportunity to join the global architectural community, feel a creative drive, test our skills, and showcase our ideas.
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Ukraine
Jury feedback summary
‘Sat House’ draws its name from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘true essence.’ The project carefully integrates the yoga house into the natural environment and proposes sustainable materials including hempcrete, timber piling and spruce shingles to create a building that is low-impact and regional in its sourcing of products. Its design uses symbolism - the pyramid as the form of the seated human body as well as a meaning for universal trinity.
In this re-created version of a traditional Latvian house there is a lot of common space, the planning is logical and fitting to its purpose. The choice of materials deserves praise as well.
Olha Kleytman / Buildner guest jury
Founder of SBM studio, Ukraine
An original and sensible proposal centered on a balanced and harmonious connection between human and nature. The efficient plan and strong section bring great spatial quality and beautifully integrates interiors and exteriors.
Nicolas Lapierre / Buildner guest jury
Founding Partner of Atelier L'Abri, Canada
The presented proposal finds a good balance between concept, general site approach, plan organization and sustainable material use. The integration of the rather big volume on site is though not totally convincing in this particular context, namely in what concerns the way it "touches" the floor, although there is some missing constructive information.
Galliane Zamarbide / Buildner guest jury
partner at BUREAU, Switzerland
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The project above all is commendable for the quality of its rendered visuals. While photorealistic renderings are not a requisite for a competition, when done well they can be very influential on the juror or reader of a proposal. The imagery here, in particular an impactful fill-spread introductory perspective, makes use of materials, light and shadow and natural landscape elements to show an imperfect building that unquestionably blends with its context.
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9/10 Linework
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10/10 Quality of drawings
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10/10 Balance of color
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10/10 Layout
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10/10 Hierarchy
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9/10 Annotation
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9/10 Text
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10/10 Clarity of story
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10/10 Clarity of diagrams
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10/10 Quality of overall presentation
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2nd Prize Winner
Closer to nature
Competitions always allow you to see many different perspectives on one task. You can see many different ideas that you have not considered yourself and are always a great source of inspiration and new experience.
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Poland
Jury feedback summary
The proposal features a simple building of prefabricated timber elements, a gabled roof and a perimeter of terraces. A glazed corridor connects each of the house’s functions, laid out along an elongated bar-form. A series of perpendicular walls segment spaces without cutting them off. The building is situated so that each of the areas can take advantage of natural sunlight throughout the day.
A wood cabin of a rectangular shape and a tilted roof seemed quite popular among the submitted proposals. But this one has shown the most subtle and sensitive use of the space and its relation with the surrounding nature without any over-exaggerated design gesture. The rooms of different functions were laid out in a very simple manner, while creating a rhythm of openness on the facade. And the operable doors at different layers of the space allow people to change the level of intimacy between private and public, interior and exterior.
Xuanru Chen / Buildner guest jury
architect at ZJJZ Atelier, China
The proposal activates the entire site and an elegant enfilade plan maintains openness and a continuous filtered connection to the landscape, activated by movement. Columns Are redundant as poche/service programming cores could gain clarity in their role for organizational and structural support. Extensive porches benefit the circulation and flow around the project. Simple and concise proposal with visualizations to support the narrative.
Judson Moore / Buildner guest jury
Design Director at Waechter Architecture, USA
The general approach to the Yoga park is an important added value of this proposal, considering the paths design in proximity with nature. The project presentation expresses balance, which is of particular interest regarding the program. Materiality and structure seem to lack a bit of research, innovation and information.
Carine Pimenta / Buildner guest jury
partner at BUREAU, Switzerland
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The presentation very clearly communicates the project form, planning and layout, and materiality using excellent line drawings and renderings. It also makes use of drawings of all scales to describe the project, from its construction to its placement within the large site. The project would benefit from additional annotation to describe dimensions, materials, and design intent.
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9/10 Linework
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9/10 Quality of drawings
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10/10 Balance of color
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9/10 Layout
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10/10 Hierarchy
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8/10 Annotation
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8/10 Text
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10/10 Clarity of story
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10/10 Clarity of diagrams
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9/10 Quality of overall presentation
3rd Prize Winner +
Buildner Sustainability Award
Buildner Sustainability Award
Haven
We participate in architecture competitions because they provide us with an arena in which we can gracefully play with ideas. Competitions challenge us to make design decisions always in relation to people and place, and they encourage us to consider the material, structural, and anthropological implications of architecture. We feel that this process sharpens our representational toolbox and, in turn, equips us better to contribute to the built environment.
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Jury feedback summary
Haven is a proposal for a compact structure which consolidates its program about a central vertical axis, stacking the common space of the yoga facility above the guest rooms. The project proposes to reuse felled timber, using local trees as structure and cladding. The columns are located about the building’s perimeter thereby opening the central space to be obstacle-free. A system of doors within the envelope permits the spaces to open to the forest.
This yoga house is fully compliant with the requirements of the project. A simple yet functional design of the house, local ecological materials used, the comfort of the residents and the dwelling's unity with nature around. It's pleasing that the authors of the project gave special attention to harvesting rainwater and harnessing the energy of the sun.
Olha Kleytman / Buildner guest jury
Founder of SBM studio, Ukraine
The roof, wall and floor assemblies in this project demonstrate an integrated approach to sustainability that starts at the modular level and propagates to the body of the architecture. This bottom up approach brings a deep simplicity and sophistication to this proposal.
Tom Schroeder / Buildner guest jury
Patkau Architects , Canada
This design integrates types of yoga movement with its form finding ingeniously. Furthermore, its choice of material builds on the form to enhance the core idea. Everything blends well together.
Yimeng Teng / Buildner guest jury
architect at Ro Rockett Design, USA
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The project is commendable for the range of information at various scales it provides. The four sheets are densely packed, but not overwhelmingly so, and the layout and level of detail gives the impression that the project has been thoroughly considered and designed. The introductory sheet includes an excellent site plan which is complex and textured and, paired with a rendering, communicates well the proposed building’s situation within its forested context.
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10/10 Linework
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10/10 Quality of drawings
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10/10 Balance of color
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10/10 Layout
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10/10 Hierarchy
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9/10 Annotation
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9/10 Text
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10/10 Clarity of story
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10/10 Clarity of diagrams
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10/10 Quality of overall presentation
Buildner Student Award
PRANAYAMA
Competitions enable us to explore innovative design approaches, push our creative boundaries, and demonstrate our ability to create spaces that enhance the experience within a harmonious and inspiring environment. We embrace the challenge of crafting architecture that respects the distinctiveness of a place and nurtures a profound connection between people and their surroundings. This competition offered the perfect opportunity to do so.
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Jury feedback summary
Pranayama is a rethinking of the traditional Latvian cottage, using prefabricated cross laminated timber CLT elements to construct an elongated, pitched home centered on a skylight. The central yoga space is flanked by support spaces including a kitchen on one end, and guest bedrooms on the other. A full length corridor at the perimeter connects the various programs.
Accurate and very delicate project, clever site implantation and very respectful of the existing natural environment.
Marco Lavit / Buildner guest jury
founder of Atelier LAVIT, France
The design and layout of the building and internal spaces is very well done. However, the building is very long and not site specific. At present it divides the site in half and seems intrusive and overbearing.
Anna Maria Orrù / Buildner guest jury
Co-founder/director, Nordic Biomimicry and Affiliated Senior Lecturer in design ecology, Konstfack, Sweden
Clear plan and form organize the space and programmatic distribution of the project . Fundamentally, the spaces are evocative through their discrete experiences and the building functions as an autonomous object albeit heavily grounded on the site and binary in relation to threshold conditions.
Judson Moore / Buildner guest jury
Design Director at Waechter Architecture, USA
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The presentation balances simple diagrams with well-developed plans and sections and renderings which communicate well the project’s intended materials. The introductory sheet is especially effective, commencing with an image describing the strong entry axis of the project supported by excellent diagrams with bursts of color to explain the building form and orientation relative to the site.
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10/10 Linework
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10/10 Quality of drawings
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9/10 Balance of color
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10/10 Layout
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10/10 Hierarchy
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9/10 Annotation
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9/10 Text
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10/10 Clarity of story
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10/10 Clarity of diagrams
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10/10 Quality of overall presentation
Client Favorite
ATKĀPE / RETREAT
Competitions are extremely beneficial for testing and challenging an architect's perspective and abilities. For architecture students, competitions offer a valuable opportunity to design beyond the constraints of academic curriculum or professional restrictions. Participating in competitions enables us to explore our skills unrestricted by mentors or advisors, allowing for complete creative expression and imaginative freedom.
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Jury feedback summary
Atkape (retreat) considers the yoga house as a sanctuary, and is designed to achieve spiritual balance, its form derived in part from pagan symbols to achieve symmetry and equilibrium. The plan is centered in a small outdoor terrace open to the sky, where a fit pit supports a meditative space usable in all seasons. The use of reed insulation and thatched roofing further connects the building with its site materially and offers opportunities for green construction.
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The project effectively uses renderings to describe different interior and exterior moments within the project. The use of fog is a bit excessive in that it takes away from the detail, especially on the introductory sheet. The full-span image at the top of the second page would benefit from annotation to describe materials or the situation of the building on the site, especially given this image is being paired with drawings of a technical nature below.
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9/10 Linework
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9/10 Quality of drawings
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8/10 Balance of color
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9/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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9/10 Annotation
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9/10 Text
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9/10 Clarity of story
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9/10 Clarity of diagrams
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9/10 Quality of overall presentation
Honorable mentions
Shortlisted projects
Crossings
Netherlands Fog Harvester
FOREST BATHING
Pranam
ONE WITH NATURE
HOUSE FO(U)R INNERLIGHT(S)
The LOOP
Lighthouse in the woods
Hearth
Connect
BENEATH THE EAVE
HATHA
SAT house
Haven
Soul Shelter
House of Hush
Samadhi Yoga House
Samādhi
PRANAYAMA
EKAGRATA
The yoga cabin
Inward & Outward Focus
Kolkasrags Yoga house in the Bog
VASTU | The Yoga of Architecture
Above the Bog
KOLKA CABIN
flow house
Nature's Temple
Back to Basic
PRITHIVI HOUSE (earth house)
ATKĀPE / RETREAT
Yoga House in the Bog
Yoga Tree House
Pilgrimage
Beacon_Another Lighthouse as a yogahouse
Closer to nature
Austra's Shelter
meža atkāpšanās / forest retreat
(a) round
Auricle Cove
