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Canopy of Wooden Flowers Crafted with Regional Spruce in an Interactive Pavilion

Author:
Michaela Maresch
Canopy of Wooden Flowers Crafted with Regional Spruce in an Interactive Pavilion

Project in-detail

A canopy of wooden flowers crafted from regional spruce creates an immersive environment in a pavilion designed for educational engagement with the significance of wood and its applications.
5 key facts about this project
01
The pavilion's design features a canopy of wooden flowers that enhances the visitor experience.
02
Interactive QR codes are integrated into the joinery, allowing educational engagement with the wood's significance.
03
Crafted primarily from regional construction spruce to support local materials and sustainability.
04
Visitors walk on soft wooden pellets, adding a unique tactile experience to the structure.
05
The pavilion offers 360-degree accessibility, allowing varied perspectives and interactions.

The HolzHerz pavilion serves as a unique installation designed to reflect nature through its engaging form. Located within a picturesque landscape, the pavilion acts as an educational space, emphasizing the significance of wood in modern design. The overall concept draws inspiration from the shape of a heart, symbolizing the bond between architecture and the environment, while aiming to create an inviting experience for its visitors.

Concept and Atmosphere

The design features a canopy made up of wooden flowers, resulting in an interior that feels vibrant and alive, reminiscent of being in a forest. Natural light and shades of green fill the space, contributing to its immersive quality. This arrangement allows visitors to experience the building as an extension of the surrounding nature, effectively combining indoor and outdoor elements.

Interactive Features

One notable aspect of the pavilion is its use of technology. QR codes are laser-etched into the joinery, providing an opportunity for visitors to engage with an online quiz about the importance of wood in Austria. By participating in this quiz, guests can learn about the environmental roles and economic significance of wood, thereby enriching their visit and making each interaction educational.

Materiality and Sustainability

The pavilion is primarily constructed from regional spruce, which highlights sustainable design practices and supports local resources. It showcases various types of wood finishes, such as natural, coated, and oiled, allowing visitors to view the different applications of wood in building projects. By focusing on local materials, the design establishes a connection to its environment and illustrates the qualities of wood as a material.

Spatial Experience

Designed for accessibility, the HolzHerz pavilion offers visitors views and interactions from multiple angles. The layout promotes exploration, encouraging individuals to engage with the structure throughout their visit. A soft layer of wooden pellets on the floor enhances the tactile experience, leading guests through the space while deepening their relationship with the pavilion's architectural story.

Within the wooden framework, the pavilion provides a rich sensory experience that combines sight, sound, and touch, contributing to an architecture that harmonizes with its natural surroundings.

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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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