Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Charred Birch and Straw Insulation Emphasizing Harmony in Personal Reflection Spaces

Authors:
Ghaith Al-safi, Kyle Dimaggio, Candice Mcfadden
Charred Birch and Straw Insulation Emphasizing Harmony in Personal Reflection Spaces

Project in-detail

Charred birch cladding and stacked straw insulation define a structure that harmonizes with its natural environment while providing dedicated spaces for meditation and recovery.
5 key facts about this project
01
Charred vertical silver birch cladding enhances durability and visual appeal.
02
Continuous straw insulation optimizes thermal performance throughout the building.
03
Interior spaces are designed specifically for meditation and recovery activities.
04
The building's orientation considers seasonal changes for energy efficiency.
05
Natural light is strategically used to create a calming atmosphere within.

The design of "Moment" explores how people connect with their surroundings, set in a landscape that promotes both thoughtfulness and reflection. It accommodates various functions such as resting, cleansing, and meditation. The design combines elements from traditional and modern Latvian construction while focusing on creating a space that enhances physical comfort and spiritual peace.

Site Integration
The exterior of the building presents a dark façade that helps it blend into the nearby landscape. This choice reduces visual disruption, allowing the occupants to focus more on the environment around them. Inside, the bright and open spaces provide a stark contrast to the outside. This creates a transition that encourages users to engage with the surrounding views and the spaces offered within the building.

Functional Organization
Inside "Moment," the layout is organized into distinct areas to support different activities. There are spaces for Rest and Recovery, Kitchen and Heating, Shower and Cleansing, and Entry and Outward Meditation. This careful arrangement promotes easy movement through the building, allowing users to interact with both the environment and one another. Each space is designed to facilitate comfort, supporting both individual contemplation and social connection.

Sustainability Strategies
The design incorporates several environmental strategies that demonstrate an awareness of ecological responsibilities. Features such as indirect heat gain, systems for collecting rainwater, and passive cooling techniques are utilized to lessen the environmental footprint. Additionally, consideration of seasonal changes, like the Summer Solstice and the Autumnal Equinox, influences the orientation and overall design, creating a deeper connection between the building and the natural world.

Materiality
Materials play an important role in achieving both durability and visual harmony. The roofing and exterior siding consist of charred vertical silver birch board, which provides protection from the elements while adding a distinct character to the design. Inside, continuous bound and stacked straw insulation is used throughout the roof, walls, and flooring to enhance energy efficiency. The use of spruce plywood for the interior finish reflects a natural aesthetic, linking the inside of the building to the outside environment, while plywood also serves as the backup wall and subfloor, ensuring stability.

The interplay of light and shadow in the building creates a special atmosphere, shaping experiences for those who enter. Each design detail contributes to the overall narrative, emphasizing the importance of stillness and connection within a dynamic environment.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy