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Integrating Natural Light with Wood and Plaster in a Hillside Tasting Facility

Authors:
Seth Hanley, Jonathan Chow, Myrissa Wolfe
Integrating Natural Light with Wood and Plaster in a Hillside Tasting Facility

Project in-detail

Built with wood and plaster to harmonize with its hillside context, the facility emphasizes natural light and spatial flow, creating an inviting environment for wine tasting and community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Natural light is optimized through strategic window placement, enhancing visitor experience throughout the day.
02
Wood and plaster materials reinforce local architectural traditions while ensuring durability.
03
The facility incorporates a distinct barrel room designed for both functionality and aesthetic appeal.
04
Spatial organization encourages interaction and movement among visitors and staff.
05
Sun studies inform design decisions, minimizing heat gain while maximizing views of the surrounding landscape.

The Monte D'Oiro Tasting Salon is an architectural addition set within a hillside landscape. This structure functions as an important part of a winery, providing a space for wine tasting and community activities. The design approach emphasizes good relationships between the building and its natural surroundings, respecting the site's beauty while reflecting the winery's history.

Architectural Concept

The concept focuses on how the building blends with its environment, avoiding a dominating presence on the site. It features modern lines and shapes while taking inspiration from local architecture. This connection to traditional styles helps the design feel at home in its geographical context, creating a sense of belonging.

Functional Layout

The tasting salon includes well-planned spaces such as the Wine Tasting Room, Winery, Barrel Room, Conference Room, Chapel, and Kitchen. Each area serves a specific purpose, supporting activities linked to winemaking and encouraging education and social interaction. The arrangement of spaces allows for easy movement and promotes engagement among visitors and staff, enhancing the overall experience.

Materiality

Materials used in the construction include wood, metal, plaster, concrete, roof tiles, and upholstery. Choosing these materials contributes to the building's visual quality and ensures durability. Each element connects with the local environment, reinforcing the feeling of place while creating an inviting atmosphere for visitors.

Environmental Considerations

Attention to environmental factors is visible in the design choices, especially regarding light and circulation. By conducting sun studies for the equinox and solstice, the placement of windows and overhangs is optimized. This ensures good light exposure while reducing heat gain. The thoughtful arrangement enhances views of the landscape, allowing the structure to connect visually with its surroundings.

The vertical lines of the salon reflect the hillside's form, effectively connecting the building to the natural landscape.

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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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