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Camouflaged Residence Crafted With Local Basalt and Sustainable Lupine Insulation

Authors:
David Connor Allen, Ngoako Mothomogolo, Liam Hildebrand, Kyra Thackrah
Camouflaged Residence Crafted With Local Basalt and Sustainable Lupine Insulation

Project in-detail

Blending seamlessly into the Icelandic landscape, this residence utilizes local basalt and lupine insulation to create an energy-efficient retreat designed for comfort and environmental sensitivity.
5 key facts about this project
01
Blending architectural form with Icelandic landscape through camouflage design.
02
Utilizes locally sourced basalt for exterior, minimizing environmental impact.
03
Incorporates lupine as an innovative insulation material, enhancing sustainability.
04
Features a south-facing orientation for optimal natural heating and light.
05
Designed to operate off-grid, utilizing geothermal and wind energy sources.

### Overview

Located in Iceland, the Hidden Crevice project exemplifies a contemporary architectural response to the island's rugged landscape and challenging climate. Designed with a focus on sustainability, the structure maximizes its connection to the environment while ensuring minimal disruption to the surrounding terrain. The intent is to create a calming retreat that fosters a sense of well-being for its occupants.

### Spatial Strategy and Form

The structure's elongated form is partially embedded within the landscape, resulting in a design that minimizes its visual impact against the snow-covered terrain. The angular roofline enhances the dynamic profile of the building, echoing Iceland's geological features. Interior spaces are carefully organized to encourage interaction and relaxation, featuring a central warm rest area and communal spaces, such as an outdoor fire pit. Generously sized windows throughout the design invite natural light and provide unobstructed views of the surrounding scenery while ensuring privacy.

### Materiality and Sustainability

A deliberate choice of materials reinforces the building's connection to its natural context. The exterior is clad in rough basalt stone sourced from local quarries, promoting visual coherence with the landscape. Aluminum sheeting serves as a durable roofing solution, adept at withstanding harsh weather conditions. Inside, timber finishes provide warmth and comfort, balancing the exterior's ruggedness. Unique to this design is the use of lupine insulation, derived from local flora, enhancing both thermal performance and ecological sustainability. Geothermal heating and wind energy integration further contribute to the building's self-sufficiency, emphasizing an overarching commitment to environmental stewardship. The strategic orientation of the building maximizes sunlight exposure, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and enhancing energy efficiency.

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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
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