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Rammed Earth Villas Embracing Assisi's Landscape with Thermal Mass Design

Author:
Tayla Clarke
Rammed Earth Villas Embracing Assisi's Landscape with Thermal Mass Design
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Constructed with rammed earth for thermal efficiency, these villas blend into the Assisi landscape, providing guests with a sustainable retreat that enhances the connection between nature and architecture.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with rammed earth, enhancing thermal efficiency and sustainability.
02
Generous north-south orientation maximizes natural light and landscape views.
03
Courtyards promote social interaction while providing privacy for guests.
04
Green roofs support biodiversity and improve insulation across the villas.
05
Design integrates mature trees, creating natural shade and a welcoming environment.

The Tili Vini Guest Villas project is located in the beautiful region of Assisi, Umbria. It functions as an accommodation area for visitors to the Tili Vini winery. The design revolves around blending the guest homes with the surrounding vineyard landscape, creating a tranquil environment for relaxation. The architects aimed to honor the local history while establishing a cohesive village that balances togetherness and privacy among guests.

Spatial Organization

The layout of the villas takes its cues from the adjacent vineyards, using a north-south orientation to form distinct areas within the complex. This arrangement encourages a natural flow of movement, making it easy for guests to navigate the space. The positioning of each villa is deliberate, ensuring that views of the surrounding landscape are maximized. This connection with nature enhances the stay for visitors, providing a sense of immersion in the beauty of the countryside.

Materiality

Rammed earth is a key material in the design. It draws on the regional traditions related to winemaking and crafts a connection with the earth itself. This choice supports sustainability and contributes to the overall aesthetic of the villas. The villas also rest on exposed concrete slab foundations, which offer thermal mass. This means the buildings can absorb heat during the day and release it at night, helping to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.

Integration with Nature

Open spaces are central to the design. Large windows and sliding doors create easy transitions between the inside and outside. The courtyards serve as central gathering areas for guests, framed by mature trees that provide shade and a welcoming atmosphere. Green roofs are another important feature. They help with insulation and provide space for diverse plant life, further rooting the villas in their environment while offering a unique outdoor experience.

Design Details

Full-height windows define the architecture of the villas. They enhance the connection to the surrounding rural landscape, filling the interiors with natural light. This design choice also creates a connection between indoor and outdoor life. The low-profile construction allows the villas to blend into the landscape. Rather than dominating the view, they enhance the beauty of Assisi and invite guests to enjoy both the architecture and the landscape.

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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

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