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Charred Wooden Shingles and Transparent Facades in a Harmonious Natural Setting

Authors:
Alfredo Pimentel, Alfredo Pimentel
Charred Wooden Shingles and Transparent Facades in a Harmonious Natural Setting

Project in-detail

Utilizing charred wooden shingles and expansive glass facades, the design seamlessly integrates with its forested surroundings while providing a tranquil wellness retreat.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and fire resistance.
02
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels for structural efficiency and sustainability.
03
Features a bent A-frame design that optimizes natural light and views.
04
Integrates green roofs to promote biodiversity and ecological balance.
05
Design emphasizes modularity, allowing flexible use of spaces based on need.

### Project Overview

Located in a forest clearing adjacent to a tranquil body of water, "Hidden Monumentality" represents a thoughtful integration of architectural structures within their natural surroundings. The design aims to establish functional spaces that promote a sense of calm and foster a connection with the ecosystem. By prioritizing low visibility and subtlety, the project seeks to create a built environment that enhances rather than overshadows its landscape context.

### Spatial Strategy

The site plan is carefully organized, featuring paths that wind through the forest and along the water's edge. Buildings are distributed to ensure privacy while providing distinct areas tailored for habitation, leisure, and wellness. The architecture incorporates a variety of forms, with low-profile structures designed to blend into the terrain and stacked volumes that afford functional diversity and enhanced visual perspectives. This strategic layout supports both individual contemplation and communal interaction, encouraging visitors to engage with the natural environment.

### Materiality and Sustainability

Material choices are central to the project's vision, balancing aesthetic appeal with functionality. The design utilizes concrete for its structural integrity and modern finish, while sustainably sourced wood adds warmth and tactile quality. Expansive glass elements invite natural light, creating open connections between interior spaces and the exterior landscape. Stone pathways and terraces enrich the sensory experience of the site, reinforcing a commitment to ecological mindfulness. Furthermore, features such as green roofs and permeable surfaces address environmental concerns, promoting sustainability and enhancing the integration of built forms within the ecosystem.

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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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