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Movable Accommodations Featuring Polycarbonate and Natural Wood Elements for Northern Lights Observation

Author:
Rodrigo Lima
Movable Accommodations Featuring Polycarbonate and Natural Wood Elements for Northern Lights Observation

Project in-detail

Movable guesthouses constructed from polycarbonate and natural wood provide a flexible lodging solution tailored for immersive Northern Lights observation in the unique landscape of Iceland.
5 key facts about this project
01
Movable guesthouses can be repositioned on a rail system for optimal views of the Northern Lights.
02
Extensive use of polycarbonate allows for natural light while reducing environmental impact.
03
Cross-laminated timber elements enhance structural strength and sustainability.
04
The design incorporates local cultural aesthetics, reflecting Iceland's architectural heritage.
05
Communal spaces facilitate social interaction while maintaining private guest areas.

**Project Overview**

Aurora Station is situated in the remote landscape of Iceland, designed to facilitate an immersive experience of the Northern Lights while prioritizing ecological preservation. The project reflects a commitment to integrating traditional Icelandic aesthetics with contemporary architectural practices, creating a synergy between the built environment and its natural surroundings.

**Spatial Organization and User Experience**

The layout is structured around a central core that serves as the main service hub, encompassing dining, lounge areas, offices, and restrooms. This design effectively delineates public and private zones, promoting a balance between community engagement and individual privacy. Multiple guesthouses, constructed from polycarbonate and glass, offer flexible accommodation options that maximize natural light and maintain sightlines to the landscape, enhancing the user experience through direct engagement with the environment.

Each guesthouse features a movable design, enabling occupants to adjust their positioning to optimize views of the Northern Lights. The minimalist interior furnishings are intentional, focusing attention on the surroundings rather than the architecture itself, fostering a sense of tranquility and connection to nature.

**Materiality and Sustainability**

The construction of Aurora Station utilizes a diverse palette of materials aimed at functionality and sustainability. Extensive use of glass creates a transparent connection to the landscape, while polycarbonate’s lightweight properties ensure minimal environmental impact combined with effective insulation. The central concrete structure offers durability and structural integrity, and traditional wooden finishes introduce warmth that resonates with Icelandic architectural heritage.

These material choices align with the project’s sustainability goals, encouraging environmental awareness among visitors and fostering social interaction through shared spaces. By integrating aspects of local culture and ensuring a minimal ecological footprint, Aurora Station exemplifies a thoughtful approach to modern architectural design within its unique context.

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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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