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Retractable Glass Walls and Sunken Design for Immersive Vineyard Experiences

Authors:
Jubin Samuel, Jessica Lam, Rola El-sayes, Vanessa Paningbatan-Cerezo
Retractable Glass Walls and Sunken Design for Immersive Vineyard Experiences

Project in-detail

The design incorporates retractable glass walls and a sunken structure to enhance the connection between visitors and the surrounding vineyards while creating a dedicated space for wine tasting.
5 key facts about this project
01
Retractable glass walls create continuous views of the vineyard.
02
The building is sunken into the hillside to blend with the landscape.
03
A suspended table accommodates 30 guests, enhancing social interaction.
04
Materials include clay-limestone for the foundation, connecting to local geology.
05
The layout promotes an engaging flow between indoor and outdoor spaces.

The Monte d'Oiro Wine Tasting Room is located in Alenquer, a region in Portugal known for its rich agricultural landscape and grape cultivation. Serving not just as a place for wine tasting, the design integrates with the surrounding vineyard, enhancing visitors' connection to the winemaking process. The building is thoughtfully placed into the hillside, allowing for spectacular views while respecting the natural terrain.

Architectural Concept

The design emphasizes a strong relationship between the tasting room and the vineyard. By lowering the building, it creates visual access to the expansive fields of grapes. A ramp provides an accessible path that invites visitors to engage with the landscape. Large glass walls allow ample natural light to enter the space, creating a feeling of openness and welcoming guests to experience the beauty of the vineyard directly.

Interior Layout

Inside the tasting room, the layout is designed to enhance the experience of wine tasting. Upon entering, guests encounter a sliding door that opens smoothly, creating a clear passage into the main area. The arrangement emphasizes views of the vineyards, promoting a bond with the scenery. A notable feature is the suspended table, which accommodates up to thirty individuals. This element not only serves a practical purpose but also enhances the room's flow, making it an inviting place for social gatherings.

Materiality and Detail

Materials selected for the tasting room play an essential role in defining the space. The design includes glass, wood structures, wood ceilings, stone backwalls, cement-based concrete, and concrete floors. These choices provide a sense of warmth and connection to the natural surroundings. The use of timber columns and wooden beams adds durability, while the white textured cement walls reflect a balance of modern and traditional Portuguese styles.

The south-west wall consists of glazed sections with retractable doors that create a clear link between indoor and outdoor areas. This design detail promotes interaction with the vineyard outside and allows natural light to shape the atmosphere throughout the day. As the light changes, it adds subtle variations to the tasting experience, enhancing the overall environment for guests.

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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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