Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Grounding Tree and Conversation Pit in a Virtual Beachfront Living Space

Authors:
Randi Bradley, Nora Cao, Nicole Erickson, Constanza Ferreiro
Grounding Tree and Conversation Pit in a Virtual Beachfront Living Space

Project in-detail

The integration of a grounding tree and a conversation pit creates a unique virtual beachfront living space that encourages community engagement while maintaining individual comfort.
5 key facts about this project
01
Grounding tree serves as a central visual and symbolic element.
02
Conversation pit fosters community interaction in a digital setting.
03
Digitally rendered beachfront enhances the sense of tranquility.
04
Color palette of blues and whites supports focus and clarity.
05
Glacier landscape backdrop symbolizes vast possibilities for creativity.

The design presents a vision for virtual living that merges physical and digital elements. It responds to contemporary challenges posed by the growing presence of the metaverse. The aim is to create an environment that supports creativity, collaboration, and individual comfort. The concept emphasizes a cyclical approach, allowing users to shape their experiences within both the physical and virtual worlds.

Safe Passage

A key feature of the design is a central structure known as the grounding tree. This element serves both as a visual focus and a symbol of connection to nature. The tree's long, curved branches create an inviting atmosphere that suggests safety and shelter. By moving away from traditional walls, the design fosters a flexible relationship between people and their surroundings. This approach encourages both personal reflection and community interaction.

Hermitage & Hearth

The living space follows a humanistic design philosophy that emphasizes comfort and relaxation. Upon entering, users are welcomed by a digitally created beachfront, which offers a calm setting. Soft textures and rounded shapes mimic the natural environment, enhancing the sense of tranquility. Instead of standard seating options, a conversation pit is incorporated to promote interaction and communication, highlighting the importance of shared experiences in a home, even in a digital context.

Limitless Workspace

The workspace is designed to improve focus and stimulate creativity, addressing the realities of remote work. Drawing from color psychology, the layout features calming blues and crisp whites that promote clarity. The background of glacier ice caps symbolizes a broad expanse of possibilities, helping to break down barriers to inspiration. This design supports easy movement between collaborative activities and solitary work, providing a coherent spatial experience linked to the grounding tree structure.

Light plays an important role in the experience of these spaces. As it filters through the environment, it creates varying patterns and shadows. This dynamic interaction enhances visibility and offers a sense of continuity, making the architectural experience richer and more engaging.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy