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Limestone Facade and Pine Wood Interiors in a Guest Residency Emphasizing Agricultural Heritage

Authors:
Julian Scheuring, Erja Ziernhöld, Marina Angenend
Limestone Facade and Pine Wood Interiors in a Guest Residency Emphasizing Agricultural Heritage

Project in-detail

With a limestone facade that harmonizes with the surrounding olive groves and warm pine wood interiors that enhance comfort, the guest residency serves as a functional retreat celebrating local agriculture and community interaction.
5 key facts about this project
01
Limestone facade incorporates locally sourced stone, creating a direct connection to the landscape.
02
Pine wood interiors utilize timber from regional forests, enhancing sustainability.
03
The design features large glass openings that maximize natural light and views of olive groves.
04
An olive oil tasting room serves as a focal point for guest interaction and local culture.
05
Outdoor terraces extend living space, encouraging outdoor engagement and appreciation of nature.

### Project Overview
"Pais Retirado" is a guest residency project located in an olive farm in the rural region near Batalha, Portugal. The facility is designed as a multifunctional space that serves not only as a guest house but also accommodates the operational needs of the farm. Its design prioritizes the integration of the built environment with the surrounding agricultural landscape, fostering both community engagement and individual relaxation.

### Spatial Configuration and User Interaction
The architectural layout incorporates an olive oil tasting room as a focal point, facilitating experiential learning about olive production. This space promotes sensory engagement with the land while supporting the dual purposes of production and guest interaction. The design features high roofs and expansive glass window-doors that enhance visual connections to the olive grove and adjoining landscapes. These elements create a continuous dialogue with nature, encouraging a harmonious coexistence of indoor and outdoor experiences. The interior spaces are organized around a long corridor that connects diverse areas while integrating functional storage, complemented by artistic wall treatments that reflect the surrounding landscape. Open-plan living and dining areas bathe in natural light, fostering social interactions among guests, while private bedrooms offer personal retreats with easy access to common spaces.

### Material Selection and Sustainability
The project employs local materials, such as limestone for external facades and interior plaster, which align with the natural palette of the region and provide thermal insulation. Pine wood accents contribute warmth to communal areas, and traditional Portuguese azulejos are used in the kitchen to highlight local craftsmanship. Emphasizing sustainability, the design incorporates large windows for natural heating and cooling, facilitating minimal energy consumption. Outdoor terraces and garden layouts enhance the connection to the environment, promoting al fresco dining and activities that allow guests to appreciate the local ecology while ensuring privacy through thoughtful landscaping.

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

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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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