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Glulam Framework Elevates Pathway Through Wetlands

Authors:
Joana Branco, Enya Aspen, Saulius Bulavas, Einar Fuglesteg
Glulam Framework Elevates Pathway Through Wetlands

Project in-detail

A pathway supported by a glulam framework weaves through wetlands, creating an elevated experience that connects visitors with the natural landscape while providing diverse viewpoints and gathering spaces.
5 key facts about this project
01
Pathway design incorporates varied elevations to enhance user experience through unique vantage points.
02
Glulam framework offers structural support while maintaining transparency and minimizing visual impact.
03
The project includes integrated viewpoints that promote interaction with the surrounding wetlands.
04
Construction methods utilize traditional wood joinery techniques for durability and stability.
05
Flexible design allows for future adaptability to accommodate new park programs and extensions.

"Walk the Line" features a pathway that transitions from the ground into the sky, inviting users to experience the landscape in a new way. Located within a park, the design incorporates steps and terraces that create different spatial moments, such as an amphitheatre and viewing platforms. The overall concept encourages engagement with nature, guiding visitors through a refreshing journey across varied terrain.

Design Concept

The design prioritizes flexibility, allowing the path to adapt to future needs and park programs. By doing so, it establishes a clear identity tied to the site and its surroundings. The pathway acts as more than just a route; it offers a series of experiences that enhance interaction with the natural environment.

Structure and Materials

The design uses a lightweight wooden framework that reflects the verticality of nearby trees. This structural choice promotes openness and connection to the landscape. Prefabricated glulam impregnated wood columns and beams form the backbone of the pathway, combining stability with an unobtrusive presence.

User Experience

The layout emphasizes the user experience with varying heights along the path. These changes create different viewpoints, encouraging exploration and observation. The entrance features an infopoint that serves as a welcome, linking various elements of the design and making navigation intuitive.

Construction Techniques

Construction methods lean on traditional wooden joinery, with cross-joint connections between structural components that ensure durability. Horizontal beams function as the main support for paths, stairs, and platforms, providing a reliable framework. The detailing reinforces a straightforward approach while maintaining structural integrity.

The pathway leads to terraces that create inviting spots for gathering and reflection, allowing visitors to absorb the surrounding scenery from multiple angles.

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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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