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Rainwater Harvesting Retreat with Local Stone Facades

Authors:
Sara Llapushi, Erika Cecchinato
Rainwater Harvesting Retreat with Local Stone Facades
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With a focus on rainwater harvesting and local stone facades, the retreat integrates seamlessly into the Italian landscape while providing guest accommodations and a Wine Tasting Area.
5 key facts about this project
01
Renovates a historic stone building to preserve local heritage.
02
Features a flexible walkway directly over a water element.
03
Incorporates rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.
04
Utilizes local materials, including bricks and stones, for construction.
05
Promotes adaptability with movable privacy panels along the walkway.

The BeauTily Tily Wine Italy Guest Homes are located in the scenic landscape of central Italy, where buildings align with the contours of nature. This project functions as a retreat, combining accommodations with a Wine Tasting Area and various outdoor features. The design concept draws inspiration from traditional rural architecture and utilizes a planting system to shape how spaces are organized and proportioned throughout the site.

Preservation and Renovation

The design emphasizes the importance of preserving an existing stone structure that reflects the area's historical essence. This building becomes a centerpiece of the project, connecting visitors to the local character while being carefully integrated into the broader design. The renovation respects the original structure, allowing it to tell a story that aligns with the surrounding landscape.

Spatial Organization

Various elements are thoughtfully arranged within the layout, including the Wine Tasting Area and the guest rooms. The Wine Tasting Area is situated inside a timber box, creating a covered space that encourages guests to engage with the outdoors. A welcoming porch serves as the main entrance, guiding visitors toward the swimming pool and other shared spaces. This setup creates clear paths that enhance the guest experience by promoting movement and interaction.

Interaction with Nature

A significant feature of the design is a walkway that connects the guest apartments and is positioned above water. This configuration strengthens the connection between the built environment and the natural surroundings. Flexible wood panels line the walkway, allowing guests to adjust privacy levels as they move through the space. This ability to change the openness fosters a sense of involvement with the landscape, providing areas for relaxation and reflection.

Sustainability and Materiality

Sustainable practices are central to the project, utilizing materials sourced from the local region to reduce environmental impact. Local bricks are specified for building the guest homes, connecting the buildings to the landscape. The exterior facades feature local stones that reflect traditional building methods. An external thermal insulation system improves energy efficiency, while solar panels on the south-facing roof support renewable energy use.

Above the guest homes, the roof is designed to capture rainwater, which is reused for irrigation. This not only contributes to sustainability but also enhances the overall aesthetic of the project.

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competition now

Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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Stair
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Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025

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

Open architecture competitions

  • Closest deadline first
  • Project competitions first
    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge

AIA (American Institute of Architects) invites you to design affordable housing in Denver

Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 2025

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