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Curved Green Roof Embracing Basalt and Rammed Earth for Intimate Cinematic Experiences

Authors:
Zivar Aliyeva, Yasemin Parlar, Reinier Kok, Rihards Dzelme
Curved Green Roof Embracing Basalt and Rammed Earth for Intimate Cinematic Experiences

Project in-detail

The integration of curved green roofs with rammed earth walls and local basalt creates intimate viewing rooms that transform film watching into a communal experience in a contemporary cinematic setting.
5 key facts about this project
01
Rammed earth walls provide superior acoustic performance for enhanced sound quality.
02
Translucent screens in viewing rooms allow for natural light and outside views.
03
A winding path engages visitors and enhances their journey to the viewing area.
04
Local basalt blocks form exterior retaining walls, connecting the structure to its landscape.
05
The curved green roof mimics traditional turf houses, integrating the cinema with the environment.

*UNDERLAND: House of Moving Pictures* is a cinematic place that changes how people experience films. Located within a carefully designed landscape, the project combines small viewing rooms with a larger communal arena. This setup highlights the connection between individual viewers and the broader audience. The main idea focuses on making the act of watching films a shared and personal experience, allowing for a dynamic interaction between the cinema and its patrons.

Design Concept

The architecture features several small viewing rooms, equipped with translucent screens that serve as both projection surfaces and views to the outside. This allows the interior spaces to remain visually linked to the activity occurring beyond the walls, enriching the overall experience of watching films. Viewers can engage closely with specific films while also feeling part of a larger community in the main arena.

Spatial Organization

Visitors move through the building via winding pathways that create engaging transitions. These routes lead from the outside environment into the main areas where films are shown, enhancing the overall journey within the structure. The layout encourages exploration. Visitors can uncover various interconnected spaces before they reach the viewing area, which builds anticipation for the movie-going experience.

Materiality and Aesthetics

Rammed earth walls play an important role in the design, improving the acoustic qualities of the interior spaces. This choice supports the goal of creating an immersive sound experience for viewers. The floor made of earth further dampens sound, enhancing the quality of the viewing experience. Local basalt blocks are used for the exterior retaining walls, linking the building to its geographic context and creating a sense of continuity with the landscape.

Environmental Integration

A notable feature of *UNDERLAND* is the curved green roof that reflects the design of traditional turf houses. This element helps the building blend more naturally with its surroundings while also providing thermal insulation. The contrast between the rough texture of the stone walls and the warmth of the rammed earth inside creates a rich tactile experience, inviting visitors into the cinema's unique environment.

Complex interactions between the spaces invite audiences to become part of the cinematic narrative. The design emphasizes both individual engagement and collective participation, making the process of watching films a shared journey for everyone involved.

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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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