Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Earth-Sculpted Cave With Concrete Arch Engaging Visitors in a Vineyard Landscape

Authors:
Mirko Daneluzzo, Michele Daneluzzo, Cristian Li voi
Earth-Sculpted Cave With Concrete Arch Engaging Visitors in a Vineyard Landscape

Project in-detail

The earth-sculpted cave, characterized by a hill-shaped roof and a prominent concrete arch, serves as a communal tasting space that integrates deeply with the surrounding vineyard landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Cave-like interior promotes sensory engagement with the local geology.
02
Hill-shaped roof designed to echo the natural slopes of the landscape.
03
Large glass walls maximize views and natural light throughout the space.
04
Concrete arch provides structural integrity while enhancing aesthetic appeal.
05
Gently sloping paths encourage exploration and connection to the vineyard.

Quinta Do Monte D'Oiro is located in a rich, fertile area characterized by gentle hills and vast vineyards. The design embraces the landscape, allowing the building to connect naturally with its surroundings. This approach creates functional spaces that resonate with the local environment, enhancing the experience of those who visit.

CAVE-LIKE SPACE

The heart of the design features a cave-like space that provides visitors with a unique sensory experience. Its rough walls create a tactile feeling, drawing on the natural geology of the region. This deliberate choice fosters an intimate atmosphere, encouraging visitors to pause and reflect. The ceiling adopts a hill-shaped form, reinforcing the structure’s relationship to the topography while ensuring comfort within the space.



STRATEGIC OPENINGS

Large glass walls are integrated throughout, framing panoramic views of the vineyard outside. These openings invite ample natural light, enriching the interior while allowing for clear sightlines to the landscape. The result is a feeling of continuity between inside and outside. Visitors can easily appreciate the beauty of the natural surroundings, bridging the gap between human-made and natural spaces.



COMMUNAL SPACES

In the tasting room, a prominent concrete arch defines the space while adding visual interest. A large communal table sits at the center, designed to encourage social interaction among visitors. This thoughtful arrangement creates a welcoming environment that emphasizes community. The design balances between being open and inviting while also maintaining a sense of intimacy, fostering connections among those present.



CIRCULATION AND PATHWAYS

Gently sloping paths connect different levels of the structure, enhancing movement and accessibility. This circulation strategy enriches visitors' experiences by encouraging exploration. As people navigate through the design, they encounter new views and interactions, deepening their connection to both the architecture and the landscape.



The overall composition culminates in the hill-shaped roof, which rises with grace and reflects the natural lines of the terrain. This element is a defining feature of the design, merging the building with its environment while highlighting the care taken to respect the landscape's character.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

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

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy