Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Hinoki Cypress Showers and Communal Spaces in a Natural Retreat

Author:
Kim Kyungmin
Hinoki Cypress Showers and Communal Spaces in a Natural Retreat

Project in-detail

Utilizing Hinoki cypress wood for its shower rooms and incorporating communal spaces designed to foster interaction, the guest house blends natural elements with functional living, creating an inviting retreat for visitors.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes Hinoki cypress wood for its antibacterial properties in shower rooms.
02
Features vertical spaces designed to enhance airflow and natural light.
03
Incorporates communal meditation areas to promote guest interaction.
04
Each guestroom includes a private balcony overlooking surrounding nature.
05
Designed to align with the sun's path for optimal energy efficiency.

The Teamakers Guest House is a new hospitality space that replaces an older stone structure, thoughtfully positioned to connect with its natural surroundings. The design focuses on creating spaces that enhance the guest experience, responding to the sun's position and the geographical orientation of the site. Through its layout, the guest house encourages interaction among visitors, creating a balance between personal comfort and community engagement.

Public Spaces

The first floor is devoted to communal areas that promote interaction among guests. The living room and meditation space act as central hubs for socializing. Characterized by high ceilings, these areas encourage plenty of natural light to enter. As a result, the atmosphere feels open and inviting, reducing any sense of restriction.

Private Retreats

On the second floor, the design shifts to focus on privacy for guests, offering an open layout that accommodates spacious individual rooms while ensuring privacy through careful wall placements. Each room comes with a balcony, extending living space outdoors and allowing guests to enjoy views of nature. This arrangement fosters a sense of comfort and tranquility, ideal for relaxation.

Functional Design Elements

Circulation within the building is a key consideration. The layout minimizes congestion in busy areas like tea-making and packing zones. The positioning of stairs is deliberate, facilitating easy movement between floors. These design choices enhance functionality, particularly in areas designed for tea preparation, packing, and drying. Every detail serves a purpose, supporting a smooth workflow.

Materiality and Atmosphere

Materials also play an important role in shaping the guest house's character. Warm wood is a prominent feature throughout, creating a welcoming and cozy environment. The use of Hinoki cypress wood in the shower room stands out, providing natural antibacterial properties and a calming scent to enrich the experience.

Large windows and folding doors connect indoor spaces with the outdoors, allowing ample light and airflow in. This design fosters an inviting warmth that permeates throughout, making the guest house a comfortable place for relaxation and social interaction.

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