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Y O U R E Y E S O N L Y
SOME buildings are made to be seen. Others
are made to be felt.
In a world of overstimulation, where screens
glow long into the night and modernity rarely
allows for silence, A Space to Dream offers
a revolutionary proposition. Designed as a
sleeping pod, this project serves as a reset
button.
Set within the Rolling Hills Residences in
Mullet, Albania, this structure has one purpose:
sleep. Not productivity. Not entertainment. Just
pure, unfiltered rest. While that may sound
deceptively simple, the reality is complex.
Because as we all know, quality sleep extends
beyond simply closing your eyes. It emerges
from the perfect harmony of architecture,
materials,
acoustics,
airflow,
temperature,
and psychology. This project embraces that
complexity.
Designed by Chris Precht, one of the most
innovative architects of our time, the space
embodies his philosophy that architecture
should be alive, not just alive-looking. Known
for his radical approach to creating spaces
where walls breathe and materials speak to
our deepest instincts, Precht merges biophilic
principles with contemporary design in a way
that makes the body intuitively recognize: this
space is good for me.
A Chamber, Not a Room
No right angles, no walls that press in on you,
A Space to Dream rejects the hard edges of
conventional architecture in favor of soft curves,
organic geometry, and a form that feels more
like a chamber than a room. The structure's
circular
shape
represents
an
engineered
response to how space influences the nervous
system. Step inside, and you immediately feel
it. The walls—they hold you.
The entire structure is wrapped in warm,
tactile timber—functional yet aesthetic. Wood
breathes.
It
absorbs
moisture,
regulates
temperature, dampens sound. It smells like
something real. In an era of glossy surfaces
and synthetic finishes, this space showcases
what materials with memory feel like. A circular
skylight sits overhead, allowing natural light to
stretch and shift throughout the day. By night, it
becomes a portal to the stars, subtly reinforcing
the rhythms of the natural world—something
humans have spent centuries trying to ignore.
Built for Sleep, Not for Show
Most bedrooms are afterthoughts—another
space within a larger structure. Here this differs
fundamentally as the building has one purpose:
to guide your body into deep, undisturbed
sleep.
The design masterfully integrates four key
elements: sound insulation through thick
timber walls and curved forms, natural
temperature control via integrated ventilation,
circadian-friendly lighting that mimics natural
rhythms, and a minimalist aesthetic that
promotes relaxation. The result? A space that
simply lets you switch off.
The Psychology of Materiality
Materials matter. Their importance extends
beyond durability and sustainability to how
they make you feel, and A Space to Dream is an
exercise in this sensory engineering.
While timber may be trendy, its use here
centers on biophilia. Studies show that natural
materials lower stress, regulate the body's
rhythms, and create calm. The wood functions
as a living part of the space. You can see the
grain, smell the resin, feel the texture under
your fingertips.
Beyond the pod, the Zen garden enhances the
experience. A transitional space where the mind
unwinds before bed and resets in the morning.
It demonstrates how architecture extends
beyond the threshold into the environment and
atmosphere.
Sleeping in Silence
Let's face it: modern cities aren't built for
sleep. Even the most luxurious homes come
with the constant hum of urban life—traffic,
notifications,
air-conditioning,
power
grids
vibrating through the walls. Through passive
climate
control,
multi-layered
insulation,
and thoughtful lighting design, this structure
eliminates those common sleep disruptors,
offering
instead
a
naturally
regulated
environment that transitions smoothly between
gentle illumination and complete darkness.
Essentially this space mutes both the physical
and psychological noise of modern living.
• Organic curves and warm timber envelop even the
bathroom, creating a space that breathes, regulates,
and speaks to something real.