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Circular Rooms Forging Creative Spaces in a Remote Coastal Retreat

Author:
Nicholas Lee
Circular Rooms Forging Creative Spaces in a Remote Coastal Retreat

Project in-detail

With a series of fragmented circular rooms enhancing privacy and fostering creativity, the dwelling serves as a functional retreat for a writer and musician on the serene island of Bornholm.
5 key facts about this project
01
Circular room configuration promotes both isolation and interaction for inhabitants.
02
Inhabitable thresholds enhance movement and connectivity between spaces.
03
Designed specifically for a writer and musician to foster creativity.
04
Prominent integration with the natural landscape of Bornholm.
05
Focus on privacy while maintaining communal areas for collaboration.

Refugium is a micro dwelling located on the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea, east of Copenhagen. Designed to serve as a retreat for a writer and a musician, the project offers a peaceful environment that nurtures creativity. The layout emphasizes creating a unique space where the occupants can work and reflect, addressing the modern need for flexible living arrangements.

Spatial Configuration

The design features a series of circular rooms arranged in a fragmented manner. This layout allows for isolation, enabling focused work while also facilitating connections to shared areas. Each room is thoughtfully positioned to provide privacy, minimizing interruptions during creative activities. The overall arrangement promotes a functional and supportive environment tailored to the needs of its inhabitants.

Inhabitable Thresholds

The dwelling includes inhabitable thresholds that connect different rooms, creating transitional spaces between areas of work and relaxation. These thresholds enhance the flow within the home, allowing movement while preserving personal space. They also encourage casual interactions, contributing to a more dynamic living experience that balances solitude and companionship.

Relationship with Nature

Refugium is designed to connect occupants with the natural surroundings of Bornholm. The positioning and layout of the dwelling encourage residents to engage with the landscape, making the most of the island’s beauty. This approach reinforces the idea of a retreat, offering not just shelter but also a deeper relationship with the environment, which enhances the creative atmosphere.

The circular room design exemplifies a practical use of space while promoting comfort and functionality. By focusing on privacy and interaction, the dwelling meets the specific needs of its inhabitants, making it a thoughtful response to contemporary living challenges. The result is a home that supports creativity and personal reflection in a tranquil setting.

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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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