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Circular Design Featuring Local Stone and Warm Wood Elements For A Tranquil Guesthouse Experience

Author:
Simone Sacchetti
Circular Design Featuring Local Stone and Warm Wood Elements For A Tranquil Guesthouse Experience

Project in-detail

A circular layout harmoniously integrates local stone and wood elements around a central olive tree, creating a serene guesthouse that connects guests to the surrounding landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Circular layout centered around a central olive tree enhances community interaction.
02
Local stone and wood are sourced to create a strong connection to the landscape.
03
A unique wine cellar is integrated beneath the olive grove, offering immersive tastings.
04
Large glass panels maximize natural light while creating a seamless indoor-outdoor experience.
05
Terraces with wooden pergolas provide shaded areas for relaxation and socialization.

**Overview**

Located in Portugal, the Olive Guest House integrates contemporary architectural elements with local traditions, creating a structure that resonates with its natural surroundings. The design is centered around an olive tree, which serves as a guiding element for both the building’s organization and its connection to the landscape. The guest house is intended to provide a versatile and immersive experience for its occupants while honoring agricultural heritage.

**Spatial Strategy and Organization**

The design employs a central circular layout, emphasizing connectivity among various functional areas. The ground floor features an open plan that includes a centrally located pool adjacent to an outdoor terrace, facilitating an interplay between indoor and outdoor environments. Accommodation is diversified, offering options such as double rooms and multi-bed configurations. Below ground, a submerged cellar reinforces the integration with nature while serving functional purposes. The first floor is dedicated to communal spaces, including a dining area and a breakfast room, characterized by large windows that frame extensive views of the landscape, thereby enhancing visitor engagement with the surroundings.

**Materiality and Aesthetic Features**

Material selection is integral to the project, fostering both visual coherence and structural integrity. Stone is utilized to establish a tactile relationship with the local environment, while wood adds warmth through elements such as pergolas and furnishings. Glass panels are strategically incorporated to maximize natural light and foster transitions between spaces. Concrete contributes a modern quality to the design, grounding it within contemporary architectural trends. The elevation showcases a varied façade that harmonizes with the topography, featuring sloped roofs and cantilevered sections that add visual dynamism. Outdoor terraces equipped with wooden pergolas and olive trees further enhance the natural ambiance, creating tranquil spaces for guest interaction with the environment.

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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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