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Corten Steel Lookouts Gradually Ascending Into Volcanic Landscape

Author:
Xinyuan Feng
Corten Steel Lookouts Gradually Ascending Into Volcanic Landscape

Project in-detail

Rising from the edge of a volcanic landscape, the design incorporates corten steel lookouts that guide visitors through a sequence of elevated perspectives, enhancing the connection between nature and the experience of exploration.
5 key facts about this project
01
Corten steel walls adapt to weather, creating a dynamic changing facade.
02
The design utilizes circular geometry inspired by caldera collapse.
03
Elevated lookouts provide direct views of the nearby Nemrut Crater Lake.
04
Visitor pathways enhance interaction with the surrounding volcanic landscape.
05
The structure's tiers guide visitors through ascending elevations for exploration.

The Nemrut Volcano Eye is located at the edge of the Nemrut Volcano, a site known for its unique geological characteristics. The design aims to create a connection with the surrounding environment, focusing on the experiences of visitors as they engage with the landscape. By using simple geometric forms, particularly two intersecting circles, the building reflects the natural topography shaped by volcanic activity. This arrangement encourages exploration and offers a fresh perspective on the dramatic scenery.

Design Concept

The design emphasizes the relationship between the structure and the volcanic landscape. The two circles in the layout mimic the geological shapes that define the area, creating spaces that resonate with the site's history. As visitors approach, a pathway invites them to walk through the terrain, leading to various viewpoints that highlight the beauty of Nemrut Crater Lake. The architectural journey is crafted to enhance the connection between people and nature, fostering moments of reflection and appreciation.

Materials and Construction

Corten steel is a key material in the construction, chosen for its durability and ability to withstand harsh weather. The building features walls clad in different layers of corten steel, with the inner circle using one layer and the outer circle consisting of two layers. This choice not only provides structural stability but also adds visual interest, allowing the facade to change with the light. Glass balustrades enhance the connection to the environment while offering safety for visitors.

Spatial Experience

The building's geometry encourages smooth movement throughout the space. As visitors make their way through the design, they encounter thoughtfully placed lookouts and platforms that direct their interaction with the landscape. This arrangement promotes curiosity and exploration, inviting individuals to immerse themselves in their surroundings. A perforated metal floor meets functional needs while contributing to the overall visual language of the building.

Light interacts with the corten steel surfaces, creating shadows that shift throughout the day. This dynamic quality enhances the architecture's relationship with the environment and adds depth to the overall experience.

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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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