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Cottage Community with Stucco and Mirrored Floorplans

Author:
Karly Meyer
Cottage Community with Stucco and Mirrored Floorplans

Project in-detail

With mirrored floorplans and a blend of stone, wood, and stucco, the design creates comfortable, private cottages connected by pathways while maximizing natural light for communal living and interaction.
5 key facts about this project
01
Mirrored floorplans enhance uniformity while ensuring distinct entrances for each cottage.
02
Chimneys on both sides of each cottage provide a traditional aesthetic and functional warmth.
03
Natural light is maximized through strategically placed openings along the open floorplan.
04
A blend of stone, wood, and stucco materials integrates the buildings with the surrounding landscape.
05
Pathways connect cottages, promoting outdoor interaction and community cohesion.

The design is set in an area rich with natural surroundings and features a main building alongside several cottages. It aims to foster a sense of community while also offering privacy for residents. The overall concept focuses on creating spaces that allow abundant natural light to flow, encouraging interaction among the occupants and enhancing their daily living experience.

Design and Layout

The main building contains essential spaces, including a kitchen, dining area, reception, lounge, and tasting room, all connected through an open floorplan. This layout allows people to move freely and interact easily, providing a comfortable atmosphere for both social gatherings and day-to-day activities. The design emphasizes a modern approach to living, where different functions blend seamlessly together.

Materiality and Aesthetics

A combination of stone, wood, and stucco comprises the primary materials used throughout the structures. These materials offer strength and longevity while providing a warm and welcoming look. The careful selection of textures and colors helps the buildings blend with their surroundings, reflecting an understanding of how architecture can harmonize with nature.

Connection to Landscape

The site design prioritizes green space, allowing for an enjoyable relationship between indoor areas and the outdoor environment. Cottages are linked by pathways that promote movement and encourage residents to spend time outside. This approach supports social interaction while also maintaining a sense of privacy for each dwelling, striking a balance between community and personal space.

Distinctive Features

The cottages feature mirrored floorplans, which create a sense of uniformity while offering individual entrances. Each structure also includes chimneys on both sides, contributing to a familiar residential look. Fireplaces stand as notable elements in both the main building and cottages, providing warmth and a place for gathering. The design considers how structures can fit within their natural context, prioritizing comfort and community without sacrificing individual needs.

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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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