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Green Roof Sanctuary Featuring Local Oak and Calçada Portuguesa for Community Engagement

Authors:
Martin Chavanne, Jim Compton, Madi Cannon, Matthew Robinson
Green Roof Sanctuary Featuring Local Oak and Calçada Portuguesa for Community Engagement

Project in-detail

A green roof enhances the sensory experience of a wine-tasting house, built with local oak and Calçada Portuguesa, designed to foster community interaction and connection to the landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
A green roof cultivates biodiversity while providing insulation.
02
Local oak is used throughout for structural elements and furnishings.
03
Calçada Portuguesa flooring incorporates traditional Portuguese craftsmanship.
04
The central courtyard promotes outdoor interaction and engagement.
05
Natural acoustic design enhances the sensory experience during tastings.

## Overview

The Abertura Tasting House is located in the rolling hills of the countryside, designed to provide an immersive experience that integrates taste, sight, sound, and community. The architectural intent focuses on establishing a profound relationship between nature, culture, and shared living. The building embodies the characteristics of the surrounding landscape while serving as a functional space for wine tasting and community engagement.

### Spatial Configuration and Community Focus

The design prioritizes communal interaction and reflective experiences, featuring an open layout that enhances social connectivity. The central courtyard serves as a pivotal gathering space, effectively merging indoor and outdoor environments. Tasting rooms are equipped with expansive glass doors to maximize natural light and facilitate a welcoming atmosphere for large gatherings. In contrast, intimate guest suites are designed to offer privacy while employing local materials that resonate with the regional aesthetic.

### Material Selection and Sustainability

The material palette emphasizes sustainability and local craftsmanship. The exterior showcases a green roof supported by wooden beams, promoting biodiversity and providing visual harmony with the environment. The facade utilizes white stucco, ensuring a minimal yet elegant presence on the landscape. Interior spaces are detailed with Portuguese stone flooring known as Calçada Portuguesa, low-profile oak furniture, and arched clay tiles that highlight traditional craftsmanship. These elements not only enhance the sensory experience but also reflect a commitment to environmentally integrated design, allowing the structure to coexist harmoniously with its natural 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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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