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Cozy Isolation with Circular Layout and Efficient Insulation

Authors:
Tomasz Wuczynski, Klaudia Walaszek, Kuba Róziewicz, Bartłomiej Kolenda
Cozy Isolation with Circular Layout and Efficient Insulation

Project in-detail

A circular layout enhances energy efficiency and creates a tranquil atmosphere for a guest house designed to provide cozy isolation amidst the rugged Icelandic landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Circular layout maximizes usable space while minimizing thermal loss.
02
Long corridors enhance solitude and facilitate gradual transitions between private and communal areas.
03
Energy-efficient design incorporates ground coverage for improved insulation.
04
Large openings frame views of the sky and landscape, integrating nature into the experience.
05
Private rooms are designed for safety and tranquility amidst a harsh environment.

The Iceland Thermal Springs Guest House is a retreat set against the rugged landscape of Iceland. Designed for visitors seeking comfort and a deeper connection with nature, the building reflects a concept of cozy isolation. Here, warm and secure interiors provide a stark contrast to the cold exterior, allowing guests to experience both quiet solitude and lively community interactions.

Spatial Organization

The design features long, private corridors that separate guest rooms from shared spaces. This thoughtful layout promotes tranquility by enabling guests to enjoy moments of peace while still providing access to communal areas for social engagement. The corridors serve as transitions, guiding movement between the desire for quiet and the opportunity for connection with others.

Energy Efficiency

Attention to energy conservation is clear in the building’s circular layout. This shape maximizes usable space while reducing wall surfaces, which enhances insulation. Selective heating strategies adapt to varying occupancy levels and weather conditions. Ground coverage is incorporated into the design, contributing to overall thermal efficiency and ensuring guests remain comfortable inside, regardless of the harsh climate outside.

Connection to Nature

Large openings throughout the guest house invite views of the sky and surrounding landscape. This design choice creates a strong link between the interior and exterior, allowing guests to feel attuned to the natural beauty that exists just outside their windows. Such elements reinforce the focus on tranquility within nature, reminding visitors of their unique setting even while indoors.

Aesthetic Considerations

The overall aesthetics of the guest house emphasize functionality and simplicity, respecting the natural surroundings. The interplay of light and shadows produced by the expansive windows adds a dynamic quality to the interiors, enhancing the atmosphere throughout the day. This attention to detail enriches the experience and encourages guests to engage meaningfully with both the architecture and the beautiful landscape that envelops them.

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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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