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Framing Views With Sloping Walls In A Cliffside Retreat

Authors:
Yaniv Hatiel, Alex Berciu vladaia, Dean Hedman, Tina Tharrouniati
Framing Views With Sloping Walls In A Cliffside Retreat

Project in-detail

With sloping walls that create intimate spaces and frame dynamic views, the design emphasizes a strong connection to the surrounding landscape while serving as a comfortable guest retreat.
5 key facts about this project
01
Sloping walls echo natural landforms, enhancing user comfort and safety.
02
Dynamic light patterns shift throughout the day, creating a unique indoor atmosphere.
03
Framed views encourage engagement with the surrounding cliffside landscape.
04
The design prioritizes emotional connection, balancing shelter and openness.
05
Strategically shaped spaces foster a sense of intimacy and tranquility.

The design is positioned in a landscape that highlights its relationship with nature. It incorporates sloping walls and thoughtful use of light, fostering a feeling of safety while connecting to the surrounding environment. The structure aims to enhance user experience, allowing occupants to engage with the location in a meaningful way.

Design Concept

Sloping walls are central to the overall design. They create an inviting atmosphere that makes individuals feel secure. By mirroring the natural contours of the landscape, these walls establish a connection with the environment. This design choice emphasizes the sensation of being at the edge of a cliff, allowing users to appreciate their surroundings while ensuring structural strength.

Light Interaction

Light plays a significant role in shaping the interior spaces. As it passes through the sloping walls, natural light creates changing patterns that enhance the character of the space. This variation in lighting influences how occupants perceive their environment. The design harnesses the quality of natural light, enabling it to evolve throughout the day, which adds depth to the user experience and promotes a closer relationship with the outdoor setting.

View Framing

The design carefully frames views to encourage interaction with the surroundings. Specific sightlines are created to guide the eye, drawing attention to the natural landscape. This intention allows users to feel more connected to the outside world. By enhancing the visual connection, the architecture promotes an immersive experience that deepens appreciation for the site.

Spatial Dynamics

Another important consideration is the changing temperature of light based on orientation. This variability enhances the spatial dynamics, offering different experiences as daylight progresses. The architecture responds to sunlight, creating a dialogue between the interior and the exterior. This interaction enriches the user's experience and reinforces the relationship between architecture and nature.

A noteworthy detail is the potential choice of materials that may complement the design's intent. Materials could be selected for their ability to diffuse light and support the sloping structure. Such choices would enhance aesthetic value and strengthen the connection to both light and landscape, reinforcing the project’s integration with its setting.

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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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