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Elevated Retreat Featuring Laminated Timber and Kalwall Panels for Year-Round Sustainability

Authors:
James Jones, James Jones, Petrina Moore
Elevated Retreat Featuring Laminated Timber and Kalwall Panels for Year-Round Sustainability

Project in-detail

An elevated shelter constructed with laminated timber and Kalwall panels optimizes thermal performance while fostering community interaction for users in the Himalayan environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Elevated design minimizes site impact while enhancing accessibility in heavy snowfall.
02
Laminated timber structure provides strength with a lightweight framework.
03
Kalwall panels facilitate natural light diffusion while ensuring insulation.
04
Adaptable interior layout supports various group sizes and functions.
05
Low-sloped roof captures snow for improved insulation and water collection.

### Overview

The Himalayan Mountain Hut is designed to provide a sustainable and adaptable shelter within the challenging climatic conditions of the Himalayas. Situated at a strategic elevation, the structure responds to its natural surroundings and caters to the needs of trekkers, facilitating both community interaction and individual comfort. The project emphasizes efficient use of materials and construction techniques that are tailored for resilience against extreme weather, while prioritizing environmental sustainability.

### Spatial Organization and Configuration

The architectural approach focuses on a flexible layout that allows for various internal spaces, including designated areas for sleeping, cooking, and communal gatherings. This versatility supports dynamic user needs and seasonal variations in group sizes. The structure features an elevated design to minimize site disturbance, enhance accessibility during adverse weather, and create sheltered outdoor spaces, reinforcing both functionality and user experience. A low-sloped roof contributes to thermal performance by optimizing insulation from collected snow.

### Material and Environmental Integration

The choice of materials is critical to the hut's performance, with laminated timber forming the primary structural element due to its high strength-to-weight ratio. Translucent Kalwall panels provide natural light and energy efficiency while maintaining privacy and connection to the outdoors. Durable concrete and stone foundations ensure stability on uneven terrain. The strategic use of operable glass windows allows for ventilation and visual engagement with the surrounding landscape. Additionally, the construction incorporates renewable energy solutions and water management systems, enhancing the hut's self-sufficiency and reducing its environmental footprint. Prefabrication of components enables rapid assembly in remote locations, critical for the project's success.

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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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