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Rammed Earth Retreat with Scenic View Corridors

Author:
Robert Claude Gaspard
Rammed Earth Retreat with Scenic View Corridors
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Constructed with rammed earth and reclaimed brick, the design incorporates strategic view corridors that connect guests to the surrounding Umbrian landscape, creating an immersive retreat for relaxation and wine tasting.
5 key facts about this project
01
Rammed earth walls enhance thermal performance and connect to local building traditions.
02
Reclaimed brick from site demolition promotes sustainability and resource efficiency.
03
Lowered building footprints minimize visual impact on the landscape.
04
Mono-pitch roofs provide effective water drainage and solar energy opportunities.
05
Carefully placed view corridors frame scenic landscapes while preserving privacy.

The Tili Wine Italy Guest Homes project is located in the beautiful region of Umbria, known for its picturesque hills and wine production. Designed with the concept of "Dolce far niente," or the pleasure of doing nothing, the project focuses on allowing guests to enjoy their surroundings at a leisurely pace. The layout accommodates various needs and preferences, providing spaces for both social interactions and personal reflection, all while highlighting a thoughtful balance between form and purpose.

Design Concept

The design centers on creating an experience rich in connection to the environment. By organizing spaces into distinct zones, the layout encourages movement and interaction among guests. This arrangement ranges from quiet areas for contemplation to lively communal spaces, ensuring that visitors can choose how they engage with their surroundings.

Materiality

Rammed earth is a significant material used in the project, linking it to local construction practices. This choice not only reflects regional tradition but also contributes to energy efficiency through its thermal properties. Reclaimed brick from the site’s previous structures enhances sustainability and showcases a commitment to reusing local resources rather than importing new materials.

Spatial Organization

The decision to lower the building footprints allows the structures to integrate more naturally with the landscape. This helps create a more understated visual impact from a distance. Mono-pitch roofs provide a simple yet functional design, supporting effective water drainage while also delivering necessary shading for the rammed earth walls, protecting them from the elements.

View and Connections

Carefully placed view corridors strengthen the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. These openings invite natural light and frame scenic views of the surrounding vineyards and mountains. By minimizing less appealing sights, such as parked vehicles, the design maintains a focus on nature, allowing guests to feel immersed in a peaceful environment.

The wine tasting building serves as an organizing focal point within the site. It creates distinct areas while encouraging community engagement. Covered patios and landscaped courtyards extend the indoor spaces, offering inviting areas for guests to relax and connect with the outdoors. Each detail is purposefully designed to enhance the overall experience, ensuring that visitors can fully appreciate the beauty of the setting.

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Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
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Chair
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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

Open architecture competitions

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    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
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    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
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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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