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Blue Clay Spa with Straw Bale Walls and Natural Integration

Authors:
Lara Niovi Vartziotis, Konstantinos Goulielmos Benning
Blue Clay Spa with Straw Bale Walls and Natural Integration

Project in-detail

Built with straw bale walls and utilizing the healing properties of blue clay, this spa is designed to harmonize with its natural surroundings while fostering community engagement and wellness.
5 key facts about this project
01
Designed to integrate with local natural features like oak trees and a pond.
02
Utilizes blue clay for its healing properties in spa treatments.
03
Constructed with straw bale walls for effective insulation and sustainability.
04
Features an open kitchen to encourage communal cooking and sharing among guests.
05
Includes rainwater harvesting systems to support environmental sustainability.

The design centers on the healing properties of blue clay, a natural resource known in Latvia for its therapeutic benefits. Located in a tranquil landscape, the spa serves as a space for wellness, encouraging guests to connect with both nature and each other. The design prioritizes the creation of a balanced environment that blends inside and outside experiences, aiming for rejuvenation of both body and mind.

Natural Elements Integration

The approach emphasizes a smooth connection between indoor and outdoor areas. Important natural features, such as oak trees and a pond, are integrated into the layout. Visitors arrive from a dirt road and move through a reception area that flows into communal spaces for dining and cooking. This transparent space invites guests to engage with the surroundings, leading them to a garden located beneath mature oak trees.

Spatial Flow and Connectivity

The design promotes ease of movement throughout the space. An open hallway connects to private bedrooms that face a hill, allowing plenty of natural light and bold views of the landscape. This arrangement fosters a feeling of closeness while maintaining a strong link to the natural environment. The enclosed spa area enhances the experience further by opening directly to the pond, which offers calming views of a small island featuring a meaningful rock formation.

Sustainability Strategies

Sustainability is a key focus in the design. Passive systems are utilized, taking into account the local climate. Features such as solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems support energy efficiency and responsible management of resources. The materials chosen for construction reflect this commitment. Wood is used for the structural components, while straw bales provide insulation. Polycarbonate panels allow light to enter while ensuring energy effectiveness.

Community and Food Production

The design encourages a spirit of communal living, featuring shared spaces that support interaction among guests and hosts. This stands in contrast to the tendency toward exclusivity in many modern spa settings. An open kitchen invites collaboration in meal preparation, highlighting ingredients sourced from on-site vegetable gardens and small animal areas. This approach not only provides nourishment but also strengthens the bond with the land and enhances the overall wellness journey.

Architectural details highlight the views of calming natural scenes within the spa, reinforcing an experience that aligns closely with its purpose of healing and rejuvenation.

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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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