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Charred Wooden Shingles and Natural Ventilation in a Wellness Retreat Set Against a Scenic Pond

Authors:
Rahul Lawhare, Priyanka Mahajan
Charred Wooden Shingles and Natural Ventilation in a Wellness Retreat Set Against a Scenic Pond

Project in-detail

Employing charred wooden shingles and natural ventilation, the design integrates seamlessly with its picturesque setting to create a wellness retreat focused on enhancing well-being and ecological sensitivity.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and weather resistance.
02
Utilizes cross-laminated timber panels to optimize structural integrity and sustainability.
03
Designed with a bent A-frame structure to maximize interior space while reducing material use.
04
Features extensive natural ventilation to promote air quality and energy efficiency.
05
Integrates a community garden to support local food production and eco-awareness.

### Project Overview
Located adjacent to a tranquil water body, the Blue Clay Country Spa is designed to facilitate well-being by fostering a connection between occupants and the surrounding landscape. The architectural intent focuses on sustainability and community engagement while creating spaces that enhance both personal wellness and ecological conservation. The layout incorporates natural features, such as existing trees and topography, to create distinct zones for therapy, residential living, and recreation, ensuring that landscaping is integral to the site’s functionality.

### Spatial Organization and User Interaction
The spatial strategy emphasizes an interconnected network of environments that prioritize user experience. Key design elements include outdoor decks that extend into the landscape, promoting social interaction and recreational activities. A pond-facing amphitheater serves as a multifunctional area for community events, while therapy rooms are designed to optimize views and natural light, enhancing relaxation and mindfulness. Additionally, dedicated garden spaces support agricultural education and reinforce the project's commitment to sustainability.

### Materiality and Sustainable Practices
The material selection features a combination of local and traditional elements, designed to harmonize with the environment. Stone provides durability and thermal mass, while timber enhances warmth and a natural aesthetic. Large expanses of glass are utilized to maximize natural light and visual connections to nature, and gravel pathways assist in effective water management. Incorporating renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines, combined with rainwater harvesting systems, affirms the design's commitment to environmental sustainability. Passive cooling techniques, along with abundant openings that blend inside and outside, further reinforce the project’s ethos of creating a restorative and ecologically-conscious space.

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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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Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
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