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Herb Lab Integration with Wooden Walls in Ecotourism Guest House

Authors:
Hakjae Kim, Xie Yunfei
Herb Lab Integration with Wooden Walls in Ecotourism Guest House

Project in-detail

Incorporating an herb lab alongside repurposed wooden walls, the design emphasizes sustainability and community engagement within a guest house setting that invites close interactions with nature.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates an herb lab for hands-on education about local plants.
02
Utilizes repurposed existing walls to enhance sustainability.
03
Features a meditation room positioned in the roof space for solitude.
04
Designed to promote community interaction within shared areas.
05
Focused on ecotourism, connecting guests directly with the natural environment.

The design in Ozolini, Latvia, embodies the principles of ecotourism while fostering a sense of community. Located in a serene landscape, the guest house functions as a bridge between personal space and shared areas. The design focuses on creating a strong relationship with the surroundings, inviting guests to engage with nature and one another throughout their stay.

Guest House Functionality

The building includes three guest rooms, each designed for two occupants. This arrangement promotes a mix of privacy and social interaction. A main hall serves as a communal area where guests can gather and connect. Additionally, a herb lab and a meditation room provide spaces for education and personal reflection, enhancing the overall visitor experience.



Sustainable Practices

Central to the design is the herb lab, which contains areas for drying and packing tea. This feature underscores a commitment to sustainability and educates guests about local plant life. The herb garden complements this focus, showcasing various herbs that have culinary and medicinal uses. This arrangement not only enriches the visitor experience but also encourages respect for the local ecosystem.



Adaptive Reuse Strategy

The project incorporates existing walls from the original site, reflecting an adaptive reuse strategy. By preserving three of these walls, the design minimizes material waste and retains a connection to the site's history. The overall structure is designed to fit harmoniously within the landscape, creating a thoughtful balance between new construction and the existing environment.



Meditation Space

The meditation room is placed in the roof area, offering a quiet retreat for guests. It features views of the natural surroundings, enhancing the experience of solitude and reflection. This space invites visitors to pause and appreciate the beauty of nature, reinforcing the connection between individuals and their environment.

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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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