This project is about a Yoga Shala proposal submitted in an International Architecture Competition Call. The site is part of a mountain Yoga Retreat Complex located in a breathtaking forest region of central Portugal. The new Yoga Shala building is inspired from the Yoga philosophy, being a spiritual practice rather than a physical exercise. Yoga practice is a personal journey towards enlightenment and the True Self. It means Connection, and this journey will only be authentic through the conceptualization and realization that everything is interconnected.
The new development apart from the Shala with an atrium space, consists of the Teahouse cave volume. Both buildings are framed by the biomorphic xeriscaping garden islands, the curvilinear walking concrete stone paths and the cultivation activities levels.
The form of the new Yoga Shala was produced by the geometric transformations of the model of the Butterfly Cocoon that gently surrounds and hosts the caterpillar throughout its metamorphosis to a brilliant butterfly. Its geometry and materiality is also connected to the construction of the Vernacular Indian and African Huts.
Bio Constantinos Yanniotis graduated from the School of Architecture NTUA in 2011, following his studies of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Patras (2003). Since then, he has been practicing as an Architect at the Yanniotis & Associates Architectural Bureau, having an expertise in Inclusive Design. In its long-lasting activity, the Bureau has completed a significant number of projects – of both small and large scale – in various fields of building design and urban planning (residential buildings, office spaces, industrial buildings, tourist facilities, golf resorts & spor
Other prizes 2020, Iron Award, A' Design Awards 2019-2020 2020, Honorable Mention, DNA Paris Design Awards 2020, 2nd Award, International Residential Awards 2020 2020, Winner, Green Apple Award for the Built Environment and Architectural Heritage, 2020, 1st Award, Rethinking the Future-Architecture, Construction & Design Awards 2020 2020, Silver Award, International Association for Universal Design Awards 2020 2020, 1st Winner, Architect of the Year 2020 Awards 2020, Winner, LIV Hospitality Design Awards 2021, Winner, Green Good Design Awards 2021 2021, Honorable Mention, Best Practice International Design-for-All Foundation Awards 2021, Winner, DNA Paris Design Awards 2021, Honorable Mention, BLT Design Awards 2021, Winner, Architect of the Year Awards 2021, Honorable Mention, Architecture MasterPrize Awards 2021, Runner-up, World Design Awards 2021, Shortlisted, International Architecture Awards 2021, Winner, S.ARCH Awards 2021, Winner, LIV Hospitality Awards 2021, Honorable Mention, BLT Awards 2021, Honorable Mention, Architecture MasterPrize Awards 2021, Winner, Architect of the Year Awards 2022, Iron Award, A' Design Awards 2020-2021 2022, Winner, LIV Hospitality Awards 2022, Winner, Best Architecture & Consulting Engineering Firm in Athens, BUILD Magazine Architecture Awards 2022, Silver Winner, Global Future Design Awards 2022, Hotel Design Awards, Hotel Design Show 2022, Winner, World Design Awards 2022, Winner, BLT Design Awards 2022, Winner, Architect of the Year Awards 2022, Gold Winner, ARCHFRAME Design Awards 2022, Gold Winner, Architecture Design Collection Awards 2022, Winner, LIV Hospitality Design Awards 2023, Winner, Most Innovative Architecture Firm 2023 - Athens, BUILD Magazine Architecture Awards 2023, Winner, Best Resort Design Concept 2023 (Greece): Pytharia, BUILD Magazine Architecture Awards 2023, Winner, Green Good Design Awards 2023, Silver Award, A' Design Awards 2021-2022
