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Elevated Accommodations with Glass Facades and Sustainable Wood Finishes

Authors:
James s.c. Chan, Dennis Yeung
Elevated Accommodations with Glass Facades and Sustainable Wood Finishes

Project in-detail

Elevated platforms with expansive glass facades and locally sourced wood finishes create a seamless connection to the Icelandic landscape, offering guests an immersive experience while observing the Northern Lights.
5 key facts about this project
01
Elevated platform design allows for unobstructed views of the Northern Lights.
02
Mobile accommodation units provide flexible guest configurations across the site.
03
Extensive use of glass facades enhances natural light and views of the surrounding landscape.
04
Local materials, including charred wooden shingles, ensure environmental harmony.
05
The bent A-frame design integrates traditional elements with modern construction techniques.

## Analytical Report: Iceland Northern Lights Rooms Architectural Project

### Overview
Located in Iceland, the Northern Lights Rooms project aims to provide an accommodation experience that aligns with the region's striking natural beauty. The design thoughtfully considers the surrounding landscape, emphasizing a relationship between the built environment and its natural context. The intent is to create an immersive experience for guests, allowing them to engage closely with the Northern Lights and the local scenery.

### Spatial Configuration
#### Site Layout and Functionality
The site plan is systematically organized, ensuring efficient circulation while catering to essential guest services. Key components include:

- **Reception Area**: Acts as the welcoming center for guests, serving as the primary access point.
- **Lounge**: Provides a communal space for relaxation, featuring large windows for optimal views of the natural surroundings.
- **Accommodations**: Private bathrooms and mobile accommodation units are strategically placed to offer privacy and flexibility, allowing guests to select ideal locations for observing the Northern Lights.

### Materiality and Sustainability
The building materials are selected for their durability and local availability, helping to withstand Iceland's challenging climate while maintaining aesthetic coherence. The project employs:

- **Concrete**: Used for structural integrity and foundational support.
- **Glass**: Large windows facilitate natural light flow and create transparency between indoors and outdoors.
- **Steel**: Provides structural resilience, contributing to a modern design language.
- **Wood**: Utilized in finishing touches to add warmth and a tactile connection to the natural setting.

In addition to material sustainability, design considerations reduce environmental impact by respecting the site’s topography, thus minimizing earthworks and preserving local habitats. The orientation of the structure is optimized to harness natural light, enhancing energy efficiency.

### Interaction with the Landscape
The design encourages active engagement with the landscape through accessible pathways and viewing terraces that promote exploration. Strategic sightlines direct attention towards the night sky, enhancing opportunities to observe the auroras. The layout fosters a physical and visual connection to the surrounding terrain, enriching the visitors' experience of the unique ecosystem. The inclusion of mobile units allows for adaptable accommodation options, encouraging varied perspectives of the natural landscape.

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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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