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Golden Glass Facades and Green Plaster Create Intimate Bungalows Embracing Nature

Authors:
Carlos Ramón henaine, Alejandro García fuentes
Golden Glass Facades and Green Plaster Create Intimate Bungalows Embracing Nature

Project in-detail

Using green plaster and golden glass, the bungalows create a unique living experience that seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor spaces while promoting sustainability and privacy.
5 key facts about this project
01
Bungalows resemble oversized ancient pots, inspired by octagonal Tuscan architecture.
02
Interior gardens use plants as visual barriers to enhance privacy and tranquility.
03
Green plaster exterior combined with golden glass creates a distinctive façade.
04
Living rooftops improve energy efficiency and promote sustainable practices.
05
Brushed oiled oak interiors provide warmth while maintaining modern aesthetics.

The design integrates nature with experiential living. It focuses on the concept of "Architecture for the Senses," where the goal is to enrich daily life through an engaging environmental experience. Set in a landscape that encourages connection with the outdoors, the bungalows enhance the quality of life for inhabitants. Each space is thoughtfully arranged to create a flow between areas designated for sleeping, cooking, and social interaction, ultimately leading to a harmonious indoor-outdoor relationship.

Exterior Design

The bungalows take on the form of oversized ancient pots while drawing inspiration from octagonal Tuscan architecture. This distinctive shape provides not only visual interest but also benefits from practical geometry. The design encourages easy movement inside, allowing visitors to navigate from one area to another without obstruction. Large windows and doorways invite natural light into the living spaces, fostering a strong connection to the environment outside.

Material Selection

Materials play a vital role in shaping the character of the bungalows. The exterior uses green plaster or stucco combined with golden reflective glass and white stained glass to create a unified look. Inside, brushed oiled oak adds warmth and a natural feel, while satin black steel introduces a touch of modernity. Local rammed earth grounds the design, linking it to traditional building methods. Stone water filters are included to enhance the functionality of the spaces and support sustainability.

Interior Features

Each designated area within the bungalows is designed for comfort and specific activities. The interior garden, referred to as the "Heart & Lung," acts as a natural divider, using plants to promote privacy and enrich the living environment. This garden area blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, making each room feel larger and more open. Thoughtful lighting choices, set at a warm temperature of 2700°K, create an inviting atmosphere. Strategically placed indirect lighting works to accommodate various daily activities within the home.

Sustainability Elements

Sustainability is an important focus of the design. Features such as semi-transparent double-sided solar panel ceilings and living rooftops contribute to energy efficiency. The structure is equipped to support solar panels and water management systems, demonstrating a commitment to responsible living. This attention to ecological considerations helps integrate human activity with the natural world.

Oversized doorways lead to the garden, encouraging the outdoor environment to flow into the living spaces. This design choice offers a refreshing view and enhances the overall experience of the home.

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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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