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Nucleation-Based Garden Design Enhancing Biodiversity Through Caves

Authors:
Fernanda Cé bogucheski, Jhonatan Tortato, Kaiana Mosko
Nucleation-Based Garden Design Enhancing Biodiversity Through Caves

Project in-detail

Combining nucleation principles with a diverse native plant garden, the design enhances local biodiversity while facilitating visitor exploration of the surrounding caves.
5 key facts about this project
01
Integrates vegetation nuclei to promote local wildlife and ecosystem health.
02
Pathways designed to encourage mindful observation and interaction with nature.
03
Tower features a gap window to connect visitors with the surrounding fissures.
04
Garden uses only native plants for self-sustaining ecological restoration.
05
Exploration of caves offers distinct visitor experiences through architectural design.

The design is situated in Iceland, a land shaped by the forces of fire and ice. It seeks to enhance how visitors connect with the area’s unique cultural and natural features. The focus is on creating an experience that respects the surrounding landscape and contributes to ecological health through thoughtful design elements.

Garden Design and Ecological Restoration

At the center of the design is a garden aimed at helping to restore the Icelandic landscape. It uses principles of nucleation to create groups of plants that attract local wildlife and encourage the growth of surrounding vegetation. By incorporating native plants, the garden strives to build a resilient ecosystem that can thrive on its own. This emphasis on ecological restoration underscores the importance of sustainability and the intention to revitalize the land.

Pathway and Visitor Engagement

The entrance pathway, referred to as a "great slow-down," plays an important role in the experience. It invites visitors to take their time, encouraging them to stop and observe the variety of life around them. This pathway establishes a connection between the built environment and nature, increasing awareness and appreciation of what lies within the landscape.

Architectural Elements and Experience

The tower serves as a significant feature, functioning as both a gateway and an observation point. Upon entering, visitors encounter a welcoming interior that contrasts with the colder environment outside. A gap window offers views into the fissures of the landscape, strengthening the connection between the design and nature. The ramp within the tower guides visitors toward different experiences in the caves, enriching their exploration of the site.

The combination of architectural features and landscaping creates a harmonious experience that encourages visitors to engage with the land. Each design element invites contemplation and fosters a deeper understanding of the natural environment. The focus on usability and ecological sensitivity leaves a lasting impression, emphasizing the rich qualities of the landscape itself.

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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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