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Rammed Earth Walls and Blue Clay Embrace in a Circular Wellness Retreat

Authors:
Venansia Frisca Natasya, Evelyn Sinugroho, Brigitta Karina
Rammed Earth Walls and Blue Clay Embrace in a Circular Wellness Retreat

Project in-detail

Integrating rammed earth walls and reclaimed blue clay within a circular layout, the design creates a multifaceted wellness retreat that harmonizes with the natural landscape while fostering community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Integrates reclaimed blue clay known for its historical significance in winemaking.
02
Utilizes rammed earth walls to provide superior thermal mass and insulation.
03
Features a circular layout that enhances connectivity and accessibility between spaces.
04
Incorporates extensive green roofs with native vegetation for ecological balance.
05
Employs greywater recycling systems to promote sustainable water management.

### Overview

The Spine - Spa Wine project is situated in a tranquil geographic context that harmonizes wellness, viticulture, and community interaction. The design integrates a spa, vineyard, and communal areas, leveraging the natural landscape to enhance overall well-being. The conceptual framework is built around three primary themes: wellness, viticulture, and community engagement, emphasizing the therapeutic qualities found in nature and their impact on human health.

### Spatial Strategy and User Experience

The architectural configuration is centered around a circular colonnade, facilitating easy accessibility and visual connection to the surrounding landscape. This ring-shaped design minimizes alteration of the existing topography, strategically directing views towards a central space marked by large trees, which serve as a visual anchor. The layout promotes a natural flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, encouraging interactions within diverse programmatic elements. The design provisions spaces specifically for wellness, traditional viticulture, and community events, cultivating an environment conducive to both relaxation and socialization.

### Materiality and Sustainability

The project employs a range of sustainable materials, including reclaimed blue clay, rammed earth walls, and autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), which contribute to energy efficiency and thermal comfort. Extensive use of glass enhances natural illumination and visual clarity throughout the interior spaces, while timber elements introduce warmth. The integration of green roofs with grass and plants not only softens the building's mass but also enhances ecological responsiveness. Innovative water management strategies, including greywater reuse and rainwater harvesting, underscore a commitment to sustainability, as does the collection of organic waste for biomass generation. This holistic approach to materiality and resource use reflects a dedication to ecological balance within the architectural vision.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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