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Hot Springs Amid Replanted Pines with Green Roof Integration

Author:
Alexis Rivero
Hot Springs Amid Replanted Pines with Green Roof Integration

Project in-detail

A geothermal plant room provides energy-efficient heating for a wellness center that uniquely integrates hot springs and replanted pine trees, promoting relaxation and community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
A dedicated geothermal plant room ensures energy-efficient heating throughout the facility.
02
The design incorporates hot springs, enhancing wellness offerings for visitors.
03
Replanted pine trees surrounding the site support local biodiversity and natural aesthetics.
04
A green roof improves insulation and integrates the structure with the environment.
05
Visitor amenities are designed for accessibility, enhancing overall user experience.

HVERFJALL combines functionality with a focus on sustainability, responding well to community needs. The design is structured across two levels, each serving distinct purposes. The overall concept creates spaces where visitors can engage with art, relax in wellness areas, and participate in community activities. It offers a thoughtful balance between various uses and environmental considerations.

Ground Level Overview

The ground level is organized to prioritize visitor experience. It features a welcoming entrance and an exhibition space that supports artistic engagement. Important amenities like toilets, information workstations, and elevators are placed for convenience. Meeting rooms are strategically distributed, allowing for collaboration and social interaction. This layout emphasizes accessibility and comfort, making it easy for visitors to navigate and enjoy the various offerings.

Lower Ground Level Amenities

On the lower ground level, the design shifts towards leisure. A café-bar invites social gatherings and downtime, enhancing the overall experience. Hot springs are a distinctive feature that adds a wellness aspect, encouraging relaxation and promoting health. Dressing rooms support the use of both the café and hot springs, ensuring practicality for visitors. The presence of storage and service areas contributes to operational functionality while maintaining a focus on visitor experience.

Energy Systems and Sustainability

Sustainability is integrated into the building’s energy systems. The design accounts for factors like wind resistance and sunlight, which helps reduce energy consumption. A green roof improves thermal efficiency and encourages plant life, blending the building with its surroundings. The geothermal plant room is vital for energy-efficient heating, aligning with modern sustainability goals.

Architectural Detailing

Architectural details convey thoughtfulness in design. Replanted pine trees enhance the site, supporting local ecology while also improving its appearance. This connection to nature adds depth to the user experience, fostering a sense of place. The careful consideration of both functionality and aesthetics enriches the overall character of HVERFJALL, creating an inviting environment for the community.

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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
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
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The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
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MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
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