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Cross-Laminated Timber Cabins Featuring Charred Wooden Shingles for Serene Retreat Experience

Authors:
Andrew Porten, Evan Warder
Cross-Laminated Timber Cabins Featuring Charred Wooden Shingles for Serene Retreat Experience

Project in-detail

Constructed with cross-laminated timber and clad in charred wooden shingles, these cabins provide a harmonious retreat that emphasizes a seamless integration with the natural landscape while facilitating communal and individual experiences.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with locally sourced cross-laminated timber for enhanced sustainability.
02
Exterior clad in charred wooden shingles to improve durability and fire resistance.
03
Innovative bent A-frame design maximizes structural integrity while enhancing aesthetic appeal.
04
Strategic use of large glass openings creates seamless connections to the surrounding landscape.
05
Design incorporates adaptable spaces that promote both communal gathering and private reflection.
The project, titled "Dancing with Light," is an architectural design retreat situated within a distinctive geographical context, likely characterized by mountainous or hilly terrains. This designed space serves as a sanctuary for reflection and connection, strategically oriented to enhance users' interactions with nature and themselves. The project consists of multiple individual cabins, each designed to foster unique experiences while contributing to a cohesive overall narrative that emphasizes movement and light.

Spatial Layout and Functionality

The layout features a series of interconnected pathways designed to guide visitors through the landscape. These pathways encourage exploration and discovery, enabling occupants to experience varying perspectives of their surroundings. The individual cabins, referred to as "shifters," are positioned strategically to maximize views while offering both communal and private spaces. Each cabin serves a specific function, including cooking, dining, bathing, and relaxation areas, ensuring versatility and adaptability for varying visitor needs.

The architectural design incorporates significant daylighting strategies, utilizing large glass openings to create a seamless connection between the indoor and outdoor environments. This integration of glass not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the cabins but also facilitates optimal natural light penetration, allowing spaces to evolve with the changing light throughout the day. The architectural elements are designed to create a retreat-like atmosphere, encouraging both communal engagement and solitary reflection, which is key to the project's intent.

Unique Design Approaches

The project's uniqueness lies in its thoughtful approach to material selection and spatial configuration. A combination of sustainable timber, concrete, glass, and steel is utilized, each chosen for its aesthetic and functional properties. The warm tones of the wood contrast with the light-grey concrete, creating a visually appealing but subtly diverse material palette. The design emphasizes transparency and openness, utilizing sliding panels that allow spaces to transform based on user interaction and light conditions.

The architectural forms are characterized by a rhythmic design that echoes the landscape's contours. This not only enhances the visual relationship with the surrounding topography but also encourages an inherent connection between the structures and the environment. The careful consideration of scale in the design promotes a balance between intimacy and community, allowing guests to gather or retreat as desired.

Incorporating versatile zoning within the cabins ensures that each activity is supported by its designated space while maintaining fluid connectivity to communal areas. This design fosters a strong sense of place, enhancing user experience and encouraging an appreciation for both the interior and the natural context.

For further insights into the project, including architectural plans, sections, and designs, exploring the full project presentation is encouraged. Understanding the intricate details of architectural ideas formulated within "Dancing with Light" can provide a comprehensive view of its intentions and functions within its unique landscape.
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100,000€ Prize / 2025

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

Competition organisers

The 10th edition of the MICROHOME architecture competition invites architects and designers from around the world to explore the possibilities of compact, sustainable living. Hosted by Buildner in collaboration with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this special edition challenges participants to design an off-grid, modular microhome for a young professional couple, with a maximum floor area of 25 m². Designs should prioritize innovation, efficiency, and real-world feasibility. 

A total prize fund of 100,000 € will be awarded, including three main prizes, the Kingspan Award, and the Hapi Homes Award, which will grant 15,000 € and lead to the construction of the selected design. The final registration deadline is September 25, 2025, and winners will be announced on Decebmer 9, 2025. For full competition details and submission guidelines, visit microhome.info.

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
Early bird registration deadline 22 May 2025
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