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Glass Atrium With Burned Wood Veneer Embracing Community Agriculture

Authors:
Jose Lopez, Jung Chen
Glass Atrium With Burned Wood Veneer Embracing Community Agriculture

Project in-detail

A transparent glass atrium, complemented by burned wood veneer, creates a vibrant space dedicated to organic farming and community engagement, seamlessly integrating with the stunning backdrop of Volcano Hverfjall and Lake Myvatn.
5 key facts about this project
01
A greenhouse integrated within a public atrium promotes local agricultural practices.
02
The building’s design maximizes views of Volcano Hverfjall and Lake Myvatn.
03
Burned wood veneer highlights sustainability while enhancing aesthetics.
04
Modular layout allows for future expansion and adaptability.
05
Pathways connect to natural surroundings, encouraging exploration and engagement.

"Green Beacon" is set in a scenic spot that provides views of Volcano Hverfjall and Lake Myvatn. The project focuses on sustainability and serves as a community gathering place. Its design centers around a large transparent volume that connects the indoor environment with the natural landscape.

Concept and Layout

The design features a long glass atrium that serves as the central space of the building, allowing natural light to penetrate deep within. This openness helps create a connection with the surroundings, making the environment feel spacious and inviting. A radial layout maximizes the use of land while leaving room for future growth, ensuring that the structure remains adaptable as needs change over time.

Functional Organization

The layout includes clearly defined public and private areas. Visitors can find a greenhouse, restaurant, and multi-purpose rooms, each located to encourage interaction among users. Service areas such as kitchens and storage are included in the design, thoughtfully integrated to support the overall function of the building without disrupting the flow of public spaces.

Material Choices

The building utilizes materials like steel structure insulation blocks, burned wood veneer, and greenhouse glass cladding. These choices are practical and align with the goals of energy efficiency and sustainability. Elevated wood decks and insulated reinforced concrete provide structure and durability while enhancing the overall aesthetic.

Design Features

The atrium space is used for organic farming and community events, emphasizing a commitment to local agricultural practices. Pathways throughout the design lead visitors to trails and nearby natural pools, encouraging exploration of the beautiful landscape. This thoughtful placement promotes engagement with the environment, while maximizing natural light and geothermal resources, enhancing the building's energy efficiency.

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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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