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Central Tree and Large Windows Enhance Community Living in Nature-Integrated Home

Authors:
Andrea Daniela Avila Ramirez, Hermella Markos, Akash Gurramkonda, Abhishek Ojha
Central Tree and Large Windows Enhance Community Living in Nature-Integrated Home
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A central tree and expansive glass openings create a harmonious connection between indoor and outdoor living, forming a adaptable home designed to accommodate families in the Latvian landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Central tree integrated within the living space enhances biophilic design.
02
Flexible partitions allow for customizable room layouts as family needs change.
03
Large glass windows provide unobstructed views of the surrounding lake.
04
Design incorporates natural light to reduce energy consumption for heating.
05
The studio space fosters artistic collaboration through adaptable working areas.

The Lake Residence is located in the peaceful landscapes of Latvia, designed to blend traditional architecture with modern living. It serves as a home for various family sizes while highlighting the importance of connecting with nature. The design promotes a lifestyle that incorporates both cultural heritage and contemporary functionality, resulting in a living environment that resonates with its surroundings.

Flexible Living Spaces

The layout emphasizes adaptability, accommodating families ranging from one to five people. This is achieved through the use of movable partitions and furniture that allow residents to customize their spaces according to their needs. The design effectively balances private areas with communal spaces, providing comfort and practicality for everyday living.

Natural Integration

A key feature of the residence is a central tree, which provides a direct connection to the natural world. This tree is not just a decorative element but enhances the living experience by supporting a design philosophy that values biophilic connections. The residence features south-facing windows that contribute to passive solar heating, allowing natural light to warm the interior and create a welcoming ambiance.

Transparency and Interaction

The north façade primarily consists of glass, offering broad views of the surrounding lake. This design choice invites the outdoors inside, helping to break down barriers between the living environment and nature. Large windows in communal areas bring in daylight, reinforcing the connection to the landscape while enhancing the overall comfort of the home.

Artistic Collaboration

The design also includes a studio space intended for artistic collaboration. This area features both private and shared spaces, tailored to encourage creativity and flexible work setups. Sliding panels enable the studio to adapt to various activities, fostering a sense of community among users. This reflects a thoughtful approach to design that aligns with the overall aim of the residence.

The layout culminates in a pathway that leads to the lake, creating a clear relationship between the home and its environment. This connection reinforces the design's focus on living in harmony with nature.

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Enter an open architecture
competition now

Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
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Chair
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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

Open architecture competitions

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    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
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Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 2025

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