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Charred Wood Shingles Create Harmony with Nature in a Versatile Retreat

Authors:
José Gabriel López Cabrera, David Alejandro Rodriguez Sarzosa, Daniel Esteban Romero Freire, Dennis Ricardo Sola Duque
Charred Wood Shingles Create Harmony with Nature in a Versatile Retreat
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Incorporating charred wood shingles and expansive glass elements, the design fosters a seamless connection with the landscape while serving as a versatile retreat for reflection and community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Charred wooden shingles provide both aesthetic appeal and fire resistance.
02
Cross-laminated timber panels enhance structural stability while minimizing environmental impact.
03
The bent A-frame design allows for effective rainwater management and natural ventilation.
04
Designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, promoting ecological harmony.
05
Interior spaces are adaptable for various uses, supporting community gatherings and individual reflection.

**Overview**

Located within a natural landscape, the design of Stonebarn integrates architectural elements with the surrounding environment, reflecting themes of temporality and the relationship between built structures and natural decay. The intent is to create a space that fosters meditation and contemplation, emphasizing the fluid relationship between the constructed and the organic. The interplay of materials and spatial organization is carefully considered to enhance user interaction with the landscape, inviting a reflective experience.

**Spatial Composition and User Engagement**

The spatial layout features a central structure that harmonizes with its context, offering areas conducive to quiet reflection and engagement with nature. The arrangement is intentionally flexible, accommodating various activities such as meditation and communal gatherings. This adaptability allows the space to evolve with its occupants, addressing both current uses and anticipating future needs.

**Material Selection and Environmental Integration**

The material palette is thoughtfully chosen to reinforce the project’s connection to the environment. The predominant use of stone provides a sense of permanence, while wood adds warmth and a reflection of organic growth. Concrete pathways facilitate durability, and glass elements blur the boundaries between interior and exterior, enhancing exposure to natural light. Steel elements offer structural integrity while minimizing visual disruption, further supporting the integration of the building within its landscape.

The design approach reflects an understanding of decay and rebirth, celebrating the life cycle of both the structure and its surroundings, ultimately inviting occupants to engage in an ongoing dialogue with the site and themselves.

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Enter an open architecture
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MICROHOME 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
100,000€ Prize / 2026

The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

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Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 18 February 2026

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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

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