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A Curved Timber Atrium Retreat With Eco-Friendly Wellness Spaces

Authors:
Renelle Handa, Jessica Wang, Jessica Jia
A Curved Timber Atrium Retreat With Eco-Friendly Wellness Spaces

Project in-detail

A multi-level retreat centered on wellness, Auricle Cove integrates timber, expansive glazing, and biophilic design. The structure supports sustainable living through a greenhouse, daylight-driven spaces, and local material use.
5 key facts about this project
01
Four-level timber structure with an arched atrium core Integrated greenhouse promotes eco-conscious farming and herbal medicine Pine wood and vertical slats filter light and enhance privacy Yoga and multipurpose spaces support wellness and communal activity Designed for passive ventilation, solar tracking, and thermal comfort.

Auricle Cove is a multi-story wellness and retreat center constructed with a laminated pine frame system and natural insulation. The building's envelope—composed of vertical wooden slats and expansive glazing—supports both breathability and visual connection to the surrounding landscape. Curved rooflines, influenced by Art Nouveau geometry and organic forms, add structural rhythm while reinforcing the project’s emphasis on flow and natural integration.

Program Sequence and Spatial Organization

The retreat is organized vertically across four levels, each serving distinct functions: the ground floor hosts the entry, dining area, kitchen, and bathroom; the second floor is dedicated to a yoga studio and communal living; private bedrooms and additional baths occupy the third floor; and the top floor contains a greenhouse and a multipurpose space for workshops. A central atrium and operable skylight bring daylight into the core and support natural ventilation, structuring the interior around light and air movement.

Environmental Systems and Material Strategy

Passive solar gain is maximized through full-height glass panels on each floor, while the greenhouse encourages local food production and plant-based nutrition. Timber and natural insulation materials contribute to energy efficiency and a tactile, low-impact interior environment. Views and circulation are carefully choreographed to support wellness, creating a retreat space shaped by its relationship to site, season, and sustainable practice.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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