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Cross-Laminated Timber Spa Integrating Natural Basalt and Modular Design for Enhanced Visitor Experience

Authors:
Benjamin Lewis Mundin, Nadia Luhar, George Sands
Cross-Laminated Timber Spa Integrating Natural Basalt and Modular Design for Enhanced Visitor Experience

Project in-detail

Utilizing cross-laminated timber and locally-sourced basalt, the complex creates a harmonious balance between modularity and environmental integration, offering a unique brewery and spa experience for visitors.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes shipping containers for modular construction, allowing flexible spatial configurations.
02
Incorporates locally-sourced basalt stone, enhancing environmental integration and durability.
03
Features a dedicated beer-bathing area, providing a unique wellness experience.
04
Includes panoramic viewing platforms that connect visitors to the surrounding landscape.
05
Employs extensive glazing to maximize natural light while maintaining thermal efficiency.

### Project Overview
Located in Iceland, the Mývatn Öl Brewery and Beer Spa is designed to integrate brewing operations with a spa experience, reflecting the surrounding natural landscape. This establishment aims to immerse visitors in local culture while providing facilities that cater to both leisure and wellness.

### Material Selection and Sustainability
The architectural composition features a diverse palette of materials that balance aesthetic appeal with functionality. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) serves as a sustainable roofing option, enhancing thermal insulation essential for Iceland's colder climate. Powder-coated metal elements contribute durability and a contemporary edge, while locally sourced basalt stone grounds the structure, drawing inspiration from the regional geography. Extensive glazing is utilized throughout the design, fostering a visual connection with the landscape and maximizing the influx of natural light.

### Spatial Organization and User Experience
The building is thoughtfully structured across three levels. The ground floor accommodates the main entrance, brewing operations, and a café, fostering social interaction. The first floor is dedicated to spa facilities, including treatment areas and relaxation spaces, emphasizing wellness for visitors. The second floor offers additional viewing platforms that enhance engagement with the dramatic scenery, ensuring that the design promotes both functionality and an enhanced visitor experience. The modular use of shipping containers within the design facilitates adaptability for various functions, allowing the establishment to evolve in response to changing 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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