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Refuge Cabins Surrounded by Mature Trees in a Sustainable Community Landscape

Author:
E Harder
Refuge Cabins Surrounded by Mature Trees in a Sustainable Community Landscape

Project in-detail

Surrounded by mature trees, the sustainable community incorporates refuge cabins and a shared terrace to foster cultural exchange and engagement within the Latvian landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Refuge cabins are designed to encourage community support and social interaction.
02
Fabric canopies enhance views of the river while providing shade for gathering spaces.
03
A natural filtered pool supports sustainable water management practices.
04
Paths are designed for both pedestrians and cyclists, promoting eco-friendly transportation.
05
Flexible areas accommodate cultural activities, fostering local traditions and gatherings.

The design is situated in the beautiful Latvian landscape, blending traditional building styles with modern sustainable practices. The project aims to bring people together and encourage interactions within a natural environment. By elevating certain structures and integrating mature trees, it creates inviting spaces for cultural exchange and community involvement.

Community Engagement
The focus is on communal areas, particularly a shared terrace that draws inspiration from Latvian settlement designs. This space includes refuge cabins and a raised terrace, promoting social interaction among residents and visitors. The cabins are central to gathering and conversation, fostering community connections.

Sustainable Integration
Sustainability is a key aspect, highlighted by the inclusion of a wind turbine. The arrangement of cabins among trees demonstrates a thoughtful approach to connecting human habitats with nature. Fabric canopies over performance areas enhance views toward the river, allowing visitors to appreciate the surrounding landscape.

Cultural Exchange
Flexible spaces are designed to support various cultural activities, including storytelling, music, and food preparation. This emphasis on shared experiences nurtures a vibrant atmosphere for cultural exchange, bringing together rural tourists and the local community.

Recreational Opportunities
The area along the river provides opportunities for activities like rowing, kayaking, fishing, and jogging. This array of options encourages a dynamic lifestyle and engagement with both nature and community.

The project incorporates materials such as stone and concrete, particularly in the construction of a durable storage shed. This choice highlights the commitment to practical design while ensuring the buildings can withstand the elements, thus reinforcing their role in 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

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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