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Dark Stone and ETFE Skin Merging Community Spaces in a High-Altitude Retreat

Authors:
Xuan Tung Dang, Duc Tuyen Le, Kim Ngan Dang, Nhat Huy Dang
Dark Stone and ETFE Skin Merging Community Spaces in a High-Altitude Retreat

Project in-detail

The use of dark stone and lightweight ETFE skin creates a unique contrast in a high-altitude retreat designed for communal living and reflection, offering visitors an immersive experience in a stunning natural landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Built using local dark stone to enhance thermal comfort in high-altitude conditions.
02
Incorporates an ETFE skin that provides natural light while ensuring efficient insulation.
03
Designed with distinct Sky Huts positioned for optimal views of the surrounding landscape.
04
Features advanced water harvesting systems tailored for melting snow and ice collection.
05
Community spaces are strategically placed to encourage social interaction among visitors.

## Architectural Design Report: Milkyeyes Project

### Overview

The Milkyeyes project is situated in the Himalayan region, aiming to create an architectural solution that fosters engagement with the surrounding natural and cultural landscapes. Designed as a place for rest and observation, it serves as an interface between visitors and the striking mountainous environment, integrating aspects of personal reflection, community, and cultural appreciation.

### Spatial Strategy

The project comprises two primary structures: **Sky Huts** and **Earth Huts**. Sky Huts are elevated to provide expansive views and include communal areas for various activities, promoting interaction among visitors while enhancing their connection to the sky. In contrast, Earth Huts are positioned closer to the ground, offering essential amenities and facilities that accommodate lower altitudes with minimal adaptation to the rugged terrain, thus emphasizing sustainability and comfort.

### Materiality and Sustainability

A commitment to local materials underscores the project’s design, which aims for aesthetic integration with the environment while bolstering local economies. Key materials include dark stone for structural walls, which offers durability and thermal mass, and wood finishes that add warmth to the interiors. The innovative use of ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) foil allows natural light to illuminate the spaces while ensuring insulation and lightweight transport—essential in the remote location. The project's sustainability initiatives include advanced water collection systems designed to capture melting snow and ice, alongside solar panels that enable energy self-sufficiency, aligning with ecological principles in high-altitude settings.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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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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