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Basalt Facade and Recycled Timber Enhance Thermal Spa Experience in Iceland's Unique Landscape

Author:
Yejin Jo
Basalt Facade and Recycled Timber Enhance Thermal Spa Experience in Iceland's Unique Landscape

Project in-detail

Crafted from local basalt and recycled timber, the spa utilizes thermal waters in a design that seamlessly integrates with Iceland's volcanic landscape, offering a unique wellness experience rooted in the region's cultural heritage.
5 key facts about this project
01
Crafted from local basalt to reflect the region’s geological heritage.
02
Utilizes recycled timber panels sourced from nearby forests for sustainability.
03
Features a rooftop garden that offers panoramic views of the landscape.
04
Incorporates thermal waters directly sourced from the volcanic site.
05
Designed with communal spaces that enhance visitor interaction and community feeling.

### Project Overview
The Mývatn Beer Spa is located in the scenic region of Mývatn, Iceland. This facility integrates elements of local culture and sustainable design, highlighting a commitment to wellness through the unique lens of the local brewing tradition. Its architectural intent is to foster a tranquil environment that connects users with the natural beauty surrounding the spa.

### Spatial Organization and User Experience
The layout of the spa supports diverse experiences across multiple levels. The ground floor is dedicated to a brewery and café, allowing visitors to enjoy locally brewed beer before engaging in restorative treatments. The second floor encompasses the main spa area alongside a relaxation lounge, both designed to provide expansive views of the sky. This arrangement prioritizes both comfort and aesthetic appeal, enhancing the user experience while encouraging a sense of community and relaxation. The rooftop garden further extends the spa experience, offering an outdoor retreat amidst the natural landscape.

### Material Selection and Sustainability
The design incorporates a variety of locally sourced materials that reflect both cultural and environmental considerations. Basalt, native to the region, serves as the primary façade material, ensuring durability while connecting the structure to the local geology. Recycled wood features prominently in the interior, representing a commitment to eco-friendly practices. Extensive glass elements flood the interior with natural light and provide visual continuity with the outdoors. The use of gabion stone enhances the building's structural integrity while integrating it seamlessly into the landscape. These material choices not only support sustainability but also deepen the connection between the spa and its environment.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
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MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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Kinderspace
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