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Charred Wooden Shingles and Stone Walls Enhancing a Sustainable Tea-Making Guesthouse

Authors:
Bar Levy, David Donley
Charred Wooden Shingles and Stone Walls Enhancing a Sustainable Tea-Making Guesthouse
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Incorporating charred wooden shingles and stone walls, the design harmonizes traditional materiality with sustainable practices to create an engaging guesthouse dedicated to tea-making experiences.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and natural weather resistance.
02
Incorporates reclaimed wood throughout the interior to promote sustainability and local craftsmanship.
03
Features large glass panels to maximize natural light and integrate indoor spaces with the landscape.
04
Employs a bent A-frame design to optimize structural stability while maintaining an open feel.
05
Includes a dedicated tea workshop that provides hands-on learning experiences for guests.

**Project Overview**
Located in Latvia, the Twin Huts project serves as a guesthouse for tea makers, emphasizing sustainable architecture that integrates with the surrounding environment and reflects the region's cultural heritage. The design creatively repurposes an existing stone barn structure, marrying historical elements with contemporary architectural principles. The guesthouse aims to provide functional space while promoting an ecological approach, encouraging visitors to engage with both the landscape and the local cultural narrative.

**Spatial Strategy and User Experience**
The layout consists of two interconnected structures, facilitating interaction and engagement. The ground level includes a spacious tea-making workshop and a drying area, designed for educational purposes and local craftsmanship. Above, the upper levels house guest accommodations and communal areas, each oriented to maximize views of the surrounding ecology. Each unit features large windows that foster a strong connection to nature and enhance natural lighting, contributing to energy efficiency through passive solar design principles.

**Material Selection and Sustainability Features**
The materials used in Twin Huts reflect the local context and sustainability ethos. The refurbished stone walls of the original barn provide a sense of permanence, while reclaimed wood elements add warmth and a connection to nature. Expansive glass panels maximize natural light, reducing reliance on artificial lighting, and structural steel elements ensure stability, offering a modern contrast to softer materials. Additionally, the design incorporates photovoltaic panels for energy generation and includes strategies for passive solar heating and cooling, optimizing overall energy management in a compact framework.

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The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

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