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Curved Spaces and Wooden Walls Embrace Lakeside Family Living

Author:
He Hongli
Curved Spaces and Wooden Walls Embrace Lakeside Family Living

Project in-detail

Curved spaces and wooden walls create a harmonious blend of indoor and outdoor experiences, enhancing lake views for two families while fostering an environment conducive to creativity.
5 key facts about this project
01
Curved outdoor spaces enhance visual connectivity to the lake.
02
Windows feature a rhythmic arrangement inspired by painting frames.
03
Wooden walls create a warm, inviting atmosphere throughout.
04
A large roof structure unifies living and studio areas.
05
Time's passage is expressed through shifting shadows on the ground floor.

The Painter's Lake House is set in a calm lakeside area, designed to serve two families while encouraging artistic expression. It combines living spaces with studio elements, promoting a connection with nature. The overall aim is to create a welcoming environment that blurs the lines between indoor comforts and the natural beauty outside.

Architectural Composition

The design features interlinked volumes, merging the spaces meant for living and working. A large roof acts as a protective covering, allowing natural light to fill the interiors. This layout facilitates fluid movement from the inside to the outside, enhancing the experience of being surrounded by the lake and its environment.

Window Configuration

The façade displays a series of windows arranged in a rhythmic fashion, reminiscent of traditional painting frames. This thoughtful arrangement allows those inside to view the lake from various perspectives, enriching their experience. By providing different "frames" through which to observe the landscape, the design promotes creativity while fostering a deeper connection with the outdoors.

Outdoor Interaction

Curved outdoor spaces on the second floor establish a direct link between the occupants and the lake. This area offers a place to relax and engage with nature. The design also takes advantage of changing light throughout the day, casting interesting shadows that bring a sense of time into the experience.

Materials and Detail

Wooden assembly walls create a warm and inviting feel, while a waterproof membrane with furry cladding adds practicality against the elements. This selection of materials balances functionality with aesthetic appeal, contributing to a cohesive look throughout the building.

The details of the Painter's Lake House come together to create an environment where living and creativity merge harmoniously, enhancing the daily experience of those who inhabit it.

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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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