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Locally Sourced Stones and Light-Membrane Structure Enhance Greenhouse Functionality

Author:
Junichi Nakajo
Locally Sourced Stones and Light-Membrane Structure Enhance Greenhouse Functionality

Project in-detail

A light-membrane roof and locally sourced stones create a climate-sensitive greenhouse near Myvatn Lake, designed for sustainable cultivation and community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Light-membrane roofing enhances thermal performance.
02
Vertical cultivation system maximizes growing space.
03
Locally sourced stones stabilize temperature fluctuations.
04
Community terrace encourages social interaction among visitors.
05
Design integrates seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.

The Iceland Greenhouse Restaurant is located near Myvatn Lake and Haverfjall Volcano, offering a unique setting for both agriculture and community interaction. Designed to blend with the natural landscape, it serves as a horticultural facility while providing a welcoming space for visitors. The design approach emphasizes practical use and encourages a connection between people and nature.

Architectural Layout

The layout features a terrain that resembles a valley, allowing for easy movement and engagement among visitors. The greenhouse acts as the central feature, incorporating a vertically expandable system for plant cultivation. This arrangement optimizes space for growing crops. It also reflects the landscape’s natural contours, making it a part of the surrounding environment.

Structural Design

The roof is constructed using a lightweight, light-membrane material that offers good thermal insulation. This choice plays a key role in maintaining a comfortable climate inside the greenhouse, especially during cold weather. The greenhouse's entrance is located on the first floor, linking it to the landscape. Inside, mesh units are used to create vertical layers that help light reach the plants effectively, enhancing their growing conditions.

Sustainability Features

The south-facing slope is designed to assist with temperature control. Locally sourced stones are placed on this slope to absorb heat during the day and release it at night. This helps create a stable environment for plant growth. Additionally, the building collects rainwater from the roof for irrigation, while geothermal heating is used to manage water temperatures, supporting sustainable practices.

Community Interaction

An open terrace provides a space for visitors to relax and connect with one another. This area encourages social interaction and enhances the overall experience. The blue volume adjacent to the terrace draws inspiration from glacial formations, visually linking the building with its natural environment and serving as an engaging entry point for all who visit.

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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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