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Recessed Entrances and Plastered Facades in a Wine-Inspired Retreat

Author:
Dorin Samano
Recessed Entrances and Plastered Facades in a Wine-Inspired Retreat
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Plastered façades and recessed entrances evoke wine bottle forms in a series of guest houses that seamlessly blend intimate privacy with communal hospitality in Italy's vineyards.
5 key facts about this project
01
Recessed entrances enhance privacy while fostering an intimate connection to the landscape.
02
Arched windows maximize natural light and views of the surrounding vineyards.
03
The design incorporates a rain garden on the roof to manage stormwater sustainably.
04
Each guest house is strategically positioned to encourage social interaction without compromising privacy.
05
The architecture reflects local wine culture through the use of forms reminiscent of wine bottles.

TILI WINE ITALY GUEST HOMES is located in a scenic region of Italy, surrounded by gentle hills and vineyards. It embodies the idea of "VITA," which means “a place with room for life.” The design aims to create spaces that encourage both community and personal reflection. These guest houses serve as an inviting home away from home for visitors, blending architecture with the natural landscape.

Form and Aesthetic

The guest houses feature a design with a recessed entrance that creates a sense of intimacy. Their shapes draw from the nearby hills, with roofs that resemble the contours of wine bottles, reflecting the area’s rich wine culture. This approach gives the buildings a distinctive charm that fits well within their surroundings and enhances the overall visual appeal of the site.

Spatial Organization

Each house is carefully arranged to balance shared and private spaces. Central areas include a wine tasting room, lounge, and a pool, encouraging guests to gather while still offering the option for solitude. This thoughtful layout is flexible, accommodating various activities throughout the year for both tourists and locals. Each guest house feels connected to the communal spaces, yet still provides a separate world for individual relaxation.

Sustainability Measures

Sustainability is a strong focus throughout the design. The wine tasting areas benefit from natural ventilation, allowing fresh air to circulate while helping to lower energy needs. Additionally, the roof terrace functions as a rain garden, collecting rainwater for later use. This design choice not only supports environmental responsibility but also enhances the functionality of the project.

Material Selection

The choice of materials, specifically plaster for the façades, reinforces durability and requires little upkeep. This choice aligns with the overall simple and clean aesthetic of the design. The materials used reflect a practical approach that balances beauty with functionality, contributing to the lasting quality of the guest houses.

Large arched windows offer views of the surrounding landscape while allowing natural light to fill the interior spaces. This connection between inside and out creates a welcoming environment that invites guests to enjoy the beauty of nature.

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Enter an open architecture
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Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
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Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
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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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Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 2025

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