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Dichroic Glass Facades and Movable Units for Community Retreats in Iceland

Authors:
Ravine Mangala, Ellen Spurlock, Lourdes Cruzhidalgo, Blaire Davis
Dichroic Glass Facades and Movable Units for Community Retreats in Iceland

Project in-detail

Utilizing movable guest units with dichroic glass facades, this architecture offers an immersive experience for visitors seeking to witness the Northern Lights while fostering communal connections in Iceland's unique landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Movable guest units allow for flexible positioning to maximize views of the Northern Lights.
02
Dichroic glass facades create dynamic color reflections that enhance the visual experience.
03
Reinforced concrete utilizes volcanic ash, ensuring sustainability and durability in harsh climates.
04
The layout promotes community interaction through shared spaces, emphasizing social engagement.
05
Timber elements provide warmth while integrating seamlessly with the Icelandic landscape.

### Overview

The Iceland Northern Lights Rooms project is located in a visually striking region of Iceland, designed to accommodate visitors seeking an immersive experience of the Aurora Borealis. It focuses on creating a balance between communal interaction and individual retreat, drawing inspiration from Icelandic village traditions. The layout promotes both shared experiences and the opportunity for solitude, reflecting the connection between architecture and the surrounding natural environment.

### Spatial Strategy and Program Design

The site selection along the northern edge of the property maximizes visibility of the Northern Lights, while the design takes advantage of the landscape's natural topography to inform the arrangement of structures. Key programmatic elements include movable guest homes, each designed to accommodate 2-4 guests. These homes can rotate on a track system, allowing for optimal positioning relative to the auroras, while also facilitating community gatherings. Shared spaces include a social viewing terrace equipped with fire pits for communal enjoyment and an open kitchen and dining area to encourage interaction among guests. Private accommodations are designed to offer tranquility and comfort, ensuring a retreat-like experience.

### Material Composition

Material selection is pivotal in achieving both aesthetic coherence and functional resilience within the harsh Icelandic climate. Dichroic glass is employed to enhance the visual appeal of the guest homes, reflecting the changing colors of the night sky. Reflective metal siding provides durability and integrates the structures with the landscape, while wood is utilized for its warmth in both interiors and communal spaces. Additionally, volcanic ash reinforced concrete is used for structural elements, ensuring long-term sustainability amidst environmental challenges.

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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
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