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Pine-Framed Retreat Featuring Herb Blending and Light-Filled Spaces

Author:
Soo-hyun Kim
Pine-Framed Retreat Featuring Herb Blending and Light-Filled Spaces

Project in-detail

A glass-walled attic offers unobstructed views of the sky, while pine and birch materials create a calming retreat designed for herb blending and relaxation in nature.
5 key facts about this project
01
Pine wood framing is used for structural integrity while enhancing warmth.
02
Folding doors connect guest rooms to private terraces, merging indoor and outdoor spaces.
03
Skylight ceilings bring natural light deep into the building's core.
04
Herb blending sessions are incorporated as part of the wellness experience.
05
The design features void spaces that enhance natural ventilation throughout.

The project focuses on integrating natural elements within a built space, aiming to create an environment that encourages well-being and mindful interactions with nature. Designed as a retreat, it offers a place for visitors to disconnect from urban life. The overall goal is to create an atmosphere where indoor and outdoor areas blend together, helping people connect more closely with their surroundings.

Spatial Organization

An open and flexible layout characterizes the design. The use of folding doors, louvers, and shades replaces traditional walls. This choice fosters a connection between inside and outside, allowing visitors to experience the environment more fully. The arrangement supports communal activities while also providing private areas. This balance makes the space adaptable for a range of visitor experiences.

Light and Environment

Natural light plays a crucial role in the architecture, particularly through large skylight ceilings that extend into the middle floor. This feature brings ample sunlight into the interiors and creates a sense of spaciousness. Void spaces ensure sunlight reaches various areas, promoting a calm and inviting atmosphere throughout the space. The thoughtful placement of windows enhances the visual connection to the outside.

Guest Accommodations

The design of the guest rooms focuses on privacy while maintaining a relationship with the landscape. Each room has folding doors that lead to private terraces, allowing guests to step outside easily. This arrangement invites moments of relaxation and encourages enjoyment of the natural surroundings. Additionally, the glass wall in the attic provides unobstructed views of the sky, connecting guests with the natural world above them.

Material Palette

A careful selection of materials reflects the local environment. Pine wood is used for the framework and facade, giving a warm and welcoming feel while ensuring stability. White brick enhances the facade's ability to reflect light, contributing to a bright and airy aesthetic. Birch wood is chosen for the furnishings, complementing the overall brightness of the interiors. Stone walls add texture and strength to the design, grounding the structure within its setting.

The thoughtful integration of light and nature creates spaces that encourage reflection and appreciation of the environment, illustrating a careful response to the need for calm and restorative settings.

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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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