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Natural Clay and Hay Retreat with Integrated Green Roofing

Authors:
Linnea Evehag, Nicklas Fälldin
Natural Clay and Hay Retreat with Integrated Green Roofing

Project in-detail

Constructed primarily from clay and hay, the retreat emphasizes sustainability with its green roofing while providing a serene space for reflection and relaxation.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using local clay and hay to ensure sustainability.
02
Features a green roof that enhances biodiversity and air quality.
03
Designed to blend with the landscape while minimizing visual impact.
04
Interior layout promotes both privacy and communal interaction.
05
Soft furnishings replace traditional seating for a more inviting atmosphere.

The Hay & Clay Hut is a natural bohemian cabin set against a beautiful landscape that encourages a close relationship between architecture and nature. Designed to provide a comfortable and inviting space, the hut blends a cozy hotel-like interior with the outdoor environment. Its approach is thoughtful, taking into account the needs of the users and the context of its location, making it a place for reflection and relaxation.

Layout and User Interaction

Inside the hut, the layout is created to promote both personal peace and social interaction. A central wall divides private areas from shared spaces, with sliding doors that make it easy to adapt the space as needed. This design allows for a flexible flow between public and private areas, enabling visitors and therapists to move comfortably throughout. The use of soft seating, like pillows and blankets, enhances the atmosphere, fostering a warm and inviting environment consistent with the bohemian design style.

Exterior Integration

The design of the exterior aims to keep the natural landscape intact while ensuring the hut fits well with its surroundings. The structures are placed in a way that maximizes views, while maintaining a lower profile along the walking paths. This careful placement minimizes visual interruptions, allowing visitors to focus on the beauty of nature around them. The overall design reinforces a connection to the environment, creating an experience that celebrates the site’s natural features.

Materiality and Sustainability

To promote sustainability, the project makes use of materials sourced locally and aligned with traditional building practices. Timber creates the main framework of the hut, while clay is used as plaster on the exterior walls, offering both a pleasing appearance and practical advantages. Hay serves as insulation, helping to maintain comfortable temperatures inside the cabin. These material choices not only support ecological goals but also align with local architectural traditions to create a sense of place.

Natural Elements and Features

Incorporating eco-friendly design elements, the Hay & Clay Hut features a green roof that encourages plant growth and supports local wildlife. This design aspect not only helps improve air quality but also highlights a commitment to environmental responsibility. The roof design, along with effective rainwater management, shows an intent to lessen environmental effects while enhancing the appearance of the hut itself.

A winding pathway leads to the hut, lined with thoughtfully placed landscaping that creates a calm and inviting journey. This enhances the overall experience, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in nature before reaching their destination.

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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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