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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

Project in-detail

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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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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