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Cross-Laminated Timber and Glass Retreat Nestled in a Woodland Setting

Cross-Laminated Timber and Glass Retreat Nestled in a Woodland Setting
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Employing cross-laminated timber and expansive glass facades, this woodland retreat provides a harmonious living and working environment for artists seeking inspiration in a tranquil natural setting.
5 key facts about this project
01
The project incorporates rainwater harvesting systems integrated into the sloped roofs.
02
Charred wooden shingles enhance durability while providing an aesthetic connection to the forest.
03
Each micro-home features a modular interior layout for flexible living and workspace arrangements.
04
Strategically placed glass facades optimize natural light and views while minimizing energy use.
05
A communal building fosters collaboration among artists, enhancing the sense of community.

### Overview

Located near Seattle, USA, the Birdhouses Artists Residency integrates residential space for artists within a densely forested setting. The project aims to foster artistic engagement and community collaboration while emphasizing sustainability. Each structure serves not only as a living space but also as a creative retreat that harmonizes with its natural surroundings.

### Spatial Strategy

The design employs a compact arrangement of micro-homes, each approximately 25 square meters, featuring innovative multi-functional layouts. The lower level accommodates essential living areas—kitchen, dining, and lounging—while the mezzanine provides additional sleeping space, all characterized by flexible and changeable configurations. Key architectural elements, such as the sloped roof, facilitate rainwater collection and enhance visual connections with the landscape. Expansive windows further dissolve the boundaries between indoor and outdoor environments, allowing for natural light and views of the surrounding forest.

### Material Selection and Sustainability

A careful selection of materials reinforces the project’s commitment to sustainability and integration with nature. Extensive use of wood provides warmth and aligns with the natural environment, while large glass panels maximize light and views. Insulated metal panels contribute to energy efficiency, and features such as solar panels and water collection systems underscore the project’s ecological focus. Additionally, movable furniture facilitates adaptability within the living spaces. Shared workshop spaces and communal areas enhance community engagement, promoting collaboration among residents. Each micro-home is elevated to minimize ecological impact, further reflecting the project's ecological sensitivity and innovative architectural approach.

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competition now

Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025

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

Open architecture competitions

  • Closest deadline first
  • Project competitions first
    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge

AIA (American Institute of Architects) invites you to design affordable housing in Denver

Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 2025

Recurring architecture competitions

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Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
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Final registration deadline 18 September 2025
Museum of 
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Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #7 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 18 September 2025
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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Re:Form - 
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Choose a site—used, abandoned, or forgotten—anywhere in the world, and give it a new purpose

Edition #2 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
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Early bird registration deadline 2 October 2025
Hospice - 
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Terminally ill

Design a safe and supportive space to those struggling with a terminal illness

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Prize 10,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 9 October 2025
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Take a step and make a statement!

Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 15 October 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 October 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025
The Last 
Nuclear Bomb Memorial

Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

Edition #6 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 13 November 2025
Concrete 
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Design a concrete pavilion

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Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025

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