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Panoramic Retreat Built With Local Materials for Reflection and Community Engagement

Author:
Aleksandra Baskelovych
Panoramic Retreat Built With Local Materials for Reflection and Community Engagement

Project in-detail

Constructed with locally sourced materials and featuring expansive panoramic windows, the huts offer a tranquil retreat designed for reflection and community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using local materials that reflect the regional identity.
02
Features expansive floor-to-ceiling windows for a strong connection to nature.
03
Designed with multifunctional spaces to accommodate various community activities.
04
Each hut is equipped for self-sufficiency with solar energy and rainwater collection.
05
Incorporates sliding kitchen tables for flexible use in compact living areas.

The Pavilosta Poet Huts, located on the western coast of Latvia, combine architecture with nature in a thoughtful way. Designed to promote personal reflection and encourage community interaction, these huts offer a space for activities such as exhibitions, poetry readings, and meditation. The overall concept fosters a strong connection to the surrounding landscape, providing a calming retreat.

Architectural Concept

At the heart of the Pavilosta Poet Huts is a vision that encourages tranquility. The layout is designed to help occupants disconnect from everyday distractions and reconnect with themselves and the environment. Large floor-to-ceiling windows are a key feature. They create an open feel and blur the lines between inside and outside. This design means that nature becomes a part of daily life for those who stay there.

Materiality

Local materials are used throughout the construction of the huts, creating a sense of connection to the region. Roof tiles, wooden beams, concrete columns, and wooden floors form the primary elements of the design. The addition of upper windows helps with ventilation and allows light to fill the spaces. This choice of materials enhances the aesthetic and provides structural support, while also ensuring the huts blend with their natural surroundings.

Sustainability Measures

The design emphasizes sustainability, giving each hut the ability to function independently in terms of power and water. Rainwater and solar energy are captured from the roofs and stored in cisterns and batteries. This method reduces reliance on external resources and reinforces the commitment to environmental responsibility. It reflects an understanding of modern needs for sustainable living.

Spatial Arrangement

The interior layout includes areas for meditation, creative activities, and communal gatherings. These spaces encourage well-being and artistic expression. Sliding kitchen tables optimize the compact areas, adding to the versatility of each hut. While the spaces are designed for practicality, they also maintain an aesthetic coherence. This combination creates a living environment that supports multiple uses and experiences.

In the design, expansive open terraces invite nature in, allowing occupants to engage deeply with the outdoor landscape. The subtle integration of interior and exterior environments enriches the overall experience of living in the huts.

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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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