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Rammed Earth Walls and Cork Flooring in a Wellness Retreat Setting

Authors:
Christopher Green, Anika Schaefer, Matthew Green
Rammed Earth Walls and Cork Flooring in a Wellness Retreat Setting

Project in-detail

Rammed earth walls and cork flooring create a sensory-rich wellness retreat that fosters a deep connection with nature while promoting community engagement and sustainable living practices.
5 key facts about this project
01
Rammed earth walls enhance thermal mass and natural insulation.
02
An aromatic garden features plants known for their essential oils.
03
Gabion retaining walls utilize local stone for stability and aesthetics.
04
Community kitchen garden supports small-scale sustainable food production.
05
Mandala studio design encourages mindfulness and physical engagement.

The design showcases a thoughtful connection to its natural surroundings while prioritizing both functionality and sustainability. Located against the hillside, the project functions as a wellness retreat and encourages a strong link between the built space and the landscape. It aims to enhance user experience by emphasizing sensory engagement, community areas, and ecological responsibility.

Aromatic Pathway

A central feature is the pathway that leads to the main building, lined with various plants such as lavender, sage, and mint. These aromatic plants are strategically chosen to appeal to visitors' senses, inviting them into an environment that promotes well-being. The pathway serves not only as a means of access but also as a deliberate design element that allows individuals to connect more deeply with nature.

Garden and Sustainability

At its core lies a kitchen garden designed for the small-scale cultivation of vegetables and herbs. This feature encourages self-sufficiency and enables occupants to partake in food production. By integrating this garden into the design, the relationship between daily activities and the surrounding landscape is reinforced, supporting the overall theme of sustainability.

Structural Integrity

The retaining wall system incorporates gabion cages filled with local rock and stone taken from the site. This choice addresses the need for landscape stabilization while ensuring that the structure aligns with its environment. Using locally sourced materials highlights the project's commitment to environmental care and allows for a smooth transition between the constructed areas and the natural surroundings.

Spatial Organization

The Mandala studio is a key aspect of the design, providing distinct areas for movement and meditation. This multifunctional room includes both earth and sky salutations, promoting a holistic approach to wellness. Careful attention is paid to the orientation of the studio to maximize natural light and airflow. This gives occupants a way to enjoy the environment while benefiting from a calm space intended for reflection and practice.

A final design detail includes the combination of rammed earth walls and cork flooring. The use of local soil in the rammed earth construction provides thermal mass and insulation, while cork serves to absorb sound, creating a quieter environment inside. This choice of materials firmly ties the building to its location and enhances the user experience by creating a comfortable atmosphere.

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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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