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Bamboo Huts Embracing Natural Light with Thatched Roofs Surrounding a Central Lake

Author:
Christopher Weber
Bamboo Huts Embracing Natural Light with Thatched Roofs Surrounding a Central Lake

Project in-detail

With bamboo structures enhanced by thatched roofs and strategically placed skylights, a series of huts encircles a central lake, offering a peaceful retreat designed for relaxation and reflection.
5 key facts about this project
01
Bamboo structures are elevated on stone block foundations for stability.
02
Each hut features a skylight for natural light and ventilation.
03
Thatched roofs utilize locally sourced vegetable fibers for sustainability.
04
The layout fosters both social interaction and personal retreat.
05
A central lake acts as a natural gathering space for occupants.

INVISIBLE POWER is located in the tranquil Andaman region, designed as a retreat that connects occupants to the natural setting. It offers spaces for reflection and relaxation. The arrangement includes a series of huts arranged around a central lake, which serves both as a gathering place and a serene backdrop for solitude. The overall design promotes a sense of peace, encouraging individuals to disengage from daily distractions.

Design Focus

The primary focus is on creating an environment that enhances awareness and tranquility. By minimizing outside distractions, the design fosters spaces where people can unwind and reflect. Each hut incorporates areas specifically for resting, with skylights that allow natural light to flood the interiors. This thoughtful approach encourages a deep sense of relaxation and a closer connection to nature.

Materials and Methods

Bamboo plays a significant role in the construction. It serves as the main structural element because of its strength and cultural significance. Sustainability is a key consideration, with locally sourced vegetable fibers used for thatched roofs. Clay is utilized in the walls to provide insulation and reduce light infiltration, ensuring comfort within the huts. Stone blocks are employed as foundations for the bamboo stilts, contributing to the stability of the structures.

Spatial Arrangement

Huts are strategically arranged around the central lake, balancing communal and private spaces. This layout invites both social engagement and personal reflection. Each hut creates an atmosphere that is both welcoming and relaxing. The overall look maintains a natural simplicity, designed to be functional while providing a peaceful retreat from the outside world.

Light plays a vital role in shaping the experience. Skylights brighten up the spaces and create a calm environment, enhancing the relationship between the occupants and their surroundings. This thoughtful detail helps to ground the architecture within nature, making the retreat feel both open and intimate.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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