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Repurposed Stone Barn Featuring Recycled Wood and Transparent Facades for a Sustainable Hospitality Experience

Author:
Or Hoyben
Repurposed Stone Barn Featuring Recycled Wood and Transparent Facades for a Sustainable Hospitality Experience

Project in-detail

A repurposed stone barn integrates recycled wood and expansive glass facades, creating a sustainable guest house that merges tea production with hospitality seamlessly.
5 key facts about this project
01
Repurposed stone barn preserves historical context while serving as a functional space.
02
Recycled wood cladding is sourced locally, promoting sustainability and ecological integrity.
03
Large glass facades connect interiors with the surrounding landscape and enhance natural light.
04
Sheltered balconies provide unique views and encourage interaction with the environment.
05
The design integrates educational spaces for visitors to learn about tea production processes.

The Tea Makers Guest House is a carefully designed architectural project located in the tranquil landscapes of Latvia. It integrates functional space for tea production with accommodations for visitors, effectively bringing together the art of tea-making and hospitality. The design promotes an immersive experience while emphasizing sustainability and community engagement.

Spatially, the project comprises two primary structures: the Main House and the Guest House. These buildings are thoughtfully positioned to optimize views and minimize the ecological footprint. A deliberate arrangement facilitates easy navigation through the site, enhancing the experience for guests and local visitors alike.

Unique Aspects of Design Integration

This project stands apart from typical hospitality designs by focusing heavily on the sensory experience of tea-making. The Tea Production Workshop features large windows that bathe the workspace in natural light, allowing visitors to observe and participate in the tea-making process. The Guest Accommodation area is composed of individually unique rooms, each designed with sheltered balconies that encourage interaction with the surrounding natural landscape.

The integration of existing historical elements is a key aspect of the design. The preservation of the stone barn not only maintains historical significance but provides a compelling contrast to the modern extensions. The architectural approach employs a combination of recycled local wood, stone, and glass, creating a conversation between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary materials.

Sustainable Materials and Practices

The project highlights the use of sustainable materials in its construction. Recycled local wood serves as the primary cladding for both the Main and Guest Houses, promoting ecological integrity while also satisfying aesthetic goals. The design incorporates wooden truss structures for roofing, providing significant support while contributing to an inviting atmosphere. Glass elements enhance transparency and connectivity to the landscape, allowing light to permeate the interiors while offering views of the surrounding environment.

The architectural design reflects a commitment to both functionality and environmental stewardship. It serves educational purposes about tea production and fosters community connections. By explicitly addressing sustainability and local culture through its design, the project not only meets but exceeds standard expectations for a guest house.

For those interested in further details, exploring the architectural plans, sections, and designs will provide deeper insights into this engaging project. The interplay of functionality and aesthetics in the Tea Makers Guest House offers a comprehensive case study in contemporary architecture.

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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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