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Exploring Community Through Wood Panels and Natural Light

Authors:
Daniela Arango, Daniel Blanco, Mateo Soto, Carolina Upegui
Exploring Community Through Wood Panels and Natural Light

Project in-detail

With modular visitor cabins framed by wood panels that maximize natural light, the design fosters a communal environment centered around tea production and reflection within a diverse landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Cabins are designed with modular sections to adapt to varying site conditions.
02
A grid system organizes the layout, enhancing spatial relationships between elements.
03
Natural light is maximized through large glass panels, blurring indoor and outdoor boundaries.
04
The project promotes community through shared bathrooms and interactive pathways.
05
Tea workshops are integrated into the barn, creating a functional hub for learning and gathering.

The design is set in a diverse landscape featuring forest clearings, rocky terrains, and open grass areas. It seeks to explore the connection between the natural environment and built structures. The layout is organized around a grid system, which helps create a friendly space for both community engagement and personal reflection. The idea of tea culture is central to the design, influencing both its form and functions.

Core Elements of the Design

At the heart of the design are two significant structures: the barn and the concept living room. These elements are placed strategically at the forest clear and lakeshore, acting as key gathering points for visitors. The barn is dedicated to tea production and associated activities, while the living room offers a place for communal gatherings focused on enjoying tea and quiet contemplation.

Modular Visitor Cabins

Small modular cabins serve as accommodations for visitors, allowing for a thoughtful integration of living spaces within the surrounding landscape. Each cabin features distinct sections that can be arranged in flexible ways to meet different needs. The inclusion of shared bathrooms and clearly defined paths encourages interaction among guests, establishing a sense of community and enhancing the overall experience.

Architectural Interventions

Throughout the site, well-placed architectural features create varied experiences that resonate with the landscape. Platforms extend over bodies of water, providing places for quiet reflection while maintaining connections to the beautiful surroundings. These transitional spaces are carefully designed, making it easy for visitors to move from intimate to larger gathering areas.

Materials and Textural Elements

The design features specific materials, including wood panels used in the framing of the cabins. This choice enhances warmth and durability. Glass panels are incorporated to allow plenty of natural light, helping to connect interior spaces with the outdoor environment. Additionally, hanging linen fabric is utilized, offering versatility in design and creating a welcoming atmosphere in both cabins and public areas. The softening of light enhances the feeling of comfort across the project.

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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

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