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Gabion and Driftwood Structure Emphasizing Community Engagement

Author:
Willie Fangrianto
Gabion and Driftwood Structure Emphasizing Community Engagement

Project in-detail

Constructed with local basalt and driftwood, the visitor centre integrates flexible exhibition spaces and a welcoming café, fostering community interaction within the natural landscape of Reykjah.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using locally sourced basalt and driftwood.
02
Flexible exhibition spaces with rotatable walls for adaptability.
03
Design incorporates natural contours to separate circulation from usable areas.
04
Continuous pathways connect main facilities, enhancing accessibility.
05
Outdoor area features seating and a playground to engage visitors with nature.

The Þríleik Visitor Centre is located in the beautiful landscape of Reykjah and serves as a hub for visitors exploring the area. It consists of three main buildings: an exhibition center, a café, and an administration office. Each building has a distinct function, yet they work together to create a cohesive design. The overall concept emphasizes a connection to the natural surroundings, allowing the structures to blend with the topography.

Exhibition Center

The exhibition center features two primary spaces: an exhibition room that displays various exhibits and an auditorium used for lectures and presentations. Designed with flexibility in mind, these areas have walls that can be rotated to serve different purposes. Large sliding full-height windows are part of the design, allowing for natural light to fill the spaces and providing views of the nearby lake, enhancing the experience for visitors.


Café

Accessibility is a key element in the café's design. Ramps lead from the car park to the dining area, restrooms, and kitchen, ensuring easy access for all visitors. The café provides a pleasant environment for guests to relax and socialize. Similar to the exhibition center, its large rotating windows help create an open feeling, making it welcoming during busy times.


Administration Office

The administration office acts as a center for visitor information and assistance. It includes office spaces and restrooms with showers, addressing the needs of staff while ensuring a consistent design throughout the center. This functional space complements the overall visitor experience, making navigation easy and direct.


Natural Elements

A pathway connects all parts of the visitor centre, including the drop-off area, car park, and entrances to hiking trails. Made from driftwood sourced from northern Iceland, it reinforces the project’s natural theme while encouraging visitors to explore the landscape further. The design reflects a commitment to sustainability, using materials such as LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) for structural components and sheep's wool for insulation.

The outdoor area features a playground and seating, designed to encourage interaction among visitors. This space bridges the indoor and outdoor environments, allowing guests to engage with the rich surroundings.

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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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