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Fan-Shaped Structure Featuring Rough-Hewn Wood Columns in a Natural Park Setting

Authors:
Alex Haecker, George Haecker
Fan-Shaped Structure Featuring Rough-Hewn Wood Columns in a Natural Park Setting

Project in-detail

Constructed with rough-hewn wood columns and a fan-shaped form, the bridge serves as a prominent gateway in the park, enhancing the connection between the natural landscape and visitors.
5 key facts about this project
01
Rough-hewn wood columns are used instead of conventional tension cables.
02
The bridge's fan shape enhances visual lines and user experience.
03
Masonry grade beams provide stability on both sides of the roadway.
04
Cross beams support the wood deck, ensuring structural integrity.
05
Integrated pathway lighting offers safety while preserving aesthetics.

The design features a reverse cable-stayed structure located in a park, serving as an entry point for visitors. Its concept departs from traditional bridge designs by incorporating wood posts in compression, creating a fan shape that enhances the connection between people and nature. This approach brings together functionality and aesthetics in a cohesive manner.

Structural Design
The structure uses square, rough-hewn wood columns that align with the surrounding environment. These columns are spliced together for added height and structural support. The wood plank bridge deck is supported by cross beams that connect with the vertical columns, ensuring strength and stability. Steel rods at the center of the bridge further enhance the structure's durability.

Lighting Strategy
Lighting plays a significant role in this design. Up/down lights highlight the wooden surfaces, creating visual interest at night. The way the bridge appears after dark invites discussions about its role; it can either be a prominent feature or blend into the landscape during the evening. Pathway lighting in the side rails offers safety without taking away from the look of the structure.

Landscaping Approach
The landscaping around the structure is carefully planned, focusing on the existing plants and trees. There are no foreign species or strict arrangements imposed, allowing the design to fit naturally within the park. This choice reinforces the connection between the architecture and its setting, creating a unified experience for those who visit.

The fan-shaped configuration of the bridge guides movement while framing views within the park, reinforcing the relationship between nature and the built environment.

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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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