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Community Cabins with Raised Platforms and Linden Oaks

Authors:
Misak Terzibasiyan, Thimo Derks, Amir Feizinezhadgheshlaghi, Shadi Hashemian
Community Cabins with Raised Platforms and Linden Oaks

Project in-detail

Set among sacred Linden Oaks, the design incorporates raised platforms that elevate community cabins, promoting interaction while addressing environmental challenges in a sustainable eco-tourism setting.
5 key facts about this project
01
Linden Oaks are integrated into the site design, emphasizing cultural significance.
02
Cabins are elevated on raised platforms to mitigate flood risk.
03
The layout promotes community interaction through shared outdoor spaces.
04
Natural vegetation enhances privacy between individual cabins.
05
An air pressure system is employed to support modular interior configurations.

The project integrates architectural and ecological elements within the Latvian landscape, placing emphasis on the relationship between nature and local culture. At its core is a pond that serves as both a water storage facility and a flood buffer, reflecting a straightforward approach to managing water resources in an area vulnerable to flooding. A pipeline functions as a floodgate and supplementary water source for irrigation, highlighting a focus on sustainability and efficient resource use.

CULTURAL CONNECTIONS

The design incorporates important cultural symbols, particularly the Linden Oak, which is significant in Latvian paganism. This connection to local traditions enhances the project’s authenticity, giving visitors a chance to engage with cultural stories that have shaped the area. The thoughtful integration of these symbols allows for a richer understanding of the region’s heritage.

SPATIAL ARRANGEMENT

The layout of cabins encourages community interaction, mirroring traditional farmstead designs where living spaces are separate from storage areas. This arrangement is purposeful, creating shared spaces, especially around sauna facilities. The sauna, a key element of local culture, is carefully placed to ensure privacy while offering pleasant views of the river, creating a peaceful and inviting atmosphere.

CIRCULATION AND EXPERIENCE

The circulation system consists of two layers, making it easier for people to move around the site while also ensuring privacy. Visual barriers enhance the experience of walking between cabins, adding a sense of seclusion. Access to the cabins is organized in three phases, beginning with a car park, which gradually opens into natural pathways lined with greenery leading to the 'island' habitat.

Each cabin is designed to balance modern architecture with traditional forms. While they are unique in appearance, the cabins share a consistent architectural language. The duality of the solid rear façades compared to the open fronts reflects functionality and engages residents with their surroundings.

A communal fire pit located near the sauna serves as a gathering area and is framed by lush vegetation. This detail accentuates the connection between architecture and local customs, firmly rooting the project in its specific context. The design promotes not just a physical space but also a way of life that values community and nature.

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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

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