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Curved Glass Forms and Brick Textures in a Sustainable Rural Residence

Author:
Daniel Lash
Curved Glass Forms and Brick Textures in a Sustainable Rural Residence
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Curved glass walls integrate with locally sourced brick and wood, creating a cohesive rural retreat designed for communal living and interaction with the surrounding landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Curved glass walls maximize daylight while providing panoramic views of the landscape.
02
The design incorporates locally sourced brick to enhance ground-level stability and insulation.
03
Charred wooden shingles add a distinct texture while ensuring weather resistance.
04
Cross-laminated timber panels offer structural strength with reduced environmental impact.
05
A bent A-frame structure promotes natural ventilation and embodies a dynamic silhouette.

# House of Amber Light

## Project Overview

Located in a rural setting with expansive views of fields and hills, the House of Amber Light reflects a commitment to integrating contemporary design with its natural surroundings. The architectural approach draws upon regional narratives, creating a cohesive relationship between the residents and the landscape. This design prioritizes accessibility and engagement, encouraging a connection with the environment through strategic spatial organization.

## Architectural Form and Spatial Organization

The structure consists of two principal forms: a circular drum and a rectangular plinth. The circular drum functions as a central element, representing unity and continuity, while the rectangular plinth is embedded in the ground, minimizing visual disruption. Visitors approach the site from the east, encountering the circular form, which creates an inviting transition through a descending ramp. This planned sequence of thresholds guides occupants from public to private areas, enhancing the overall user experience by promoting exploration and interaction within the space.

### Materiality and Environmental Integration

Material selection plays a critical role in the building's design narrative. Brick walls and pavers provide structural integrity while echoing local building traditions. Extensive use of wood adds warmth and texture, while glass elements facilitate connections between the interior and exterior environments, allowing natural light to illuminate the space. Curved glass in the drum enhances movement fluidity and contributes to dynamic light patterns throughout the day. The building’s careful elevation and material choices ensure minimal disruption to the landscape, allowing the natural environment to define the visitor experience.

The design includes communal spaces, such as dining and tasting rooms, promoting social interaction while providing natural lighting. Additionally, features for seasonal adaptability leverage thermal mass for comfort throughout the year. The effective layering of light sources and the strategic incorporation of skylights and large windows culminate in a thoughtful balance of illumination and ambiance.

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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
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100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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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

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    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

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

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Final registration deadline 13 November 2025
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Final registration deadline 27 November 2025

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