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Rocky Hillside Cabin Featuring Wooden Shingles and Natural Ventilation

Authors:
Aleksandre Iobidze, Irakli Khatiashvili
Rocky Hillside Cabin Featuring Wooden Shingles and Natural Ventilation

Project in-detail

Perched on a rocky hillside, the cabin employs wooden shingles and natural ventilation to enhance its connection with the landscape, offering a serene space for meditation.
5 key facts about this project
01
A tapered form that deflects prevailing winds enhances natural ventilation.
02
The building integrates solar panels that provide electricity and hot water.
03
Wooden shingles create a facade that mirrors the surrounding rocky landscape.
04
Interior spaces feature light-colored wood, promoting warmth and tranquility.
05
Design prioritizes a seamless connection with the natural environment.

The "Cabine of Introspection" is situated in a remote vale surrounded by three hills, characterized by a rugged natural landscape. The building serves as a meditation space, designed to encourage contemplation and connection with nature. Its design focuses on blending with the environment while providing a calming atmosphere for those who use it.

Design Concept

The layout of the cabin is inspired by the curves of the nearby vales. This results in an elongated shape that helps redirect the northwestern winds. It is not only about aesthetics but also functional design. The building features strategically placed windows that allow for natural ventilation. Inside, the flow of the spaces leads individuals toward a large area that offers panoramic views, enhancing the meditative experience for users.

Material Selection

The facade uses a broken line in its design and a shingle structure that reflects the rocky slopes surrounding it. Light-colored wood inside contrasts with the strong appearance of the exterior, creating a warm and inviting space. This choice of materials emphasizes a connection with nature while maintaining a pleasing visual appeal.

Sustainability Features

Sustainability is a key focus of the design. The roof incorporates wooden shingles, and 25% of it is fitted with hybrid solar panels. These features generate electricity and hot water, emphasizing an eco-friendly approach. The roof slightly overhangs to provide shade in the summer and allows sunlight during the winter. Vertical window openings enable fresh air to circulate, contributing to a comfortable environment for occupants.

Structural Integrity

The cabin is built with a lightweight steel frame and wooden beams, ensuring strong construction. This setup eliminates the need for a deep foundation, which speeds up the building process and lessens environmental impact. Using these materials demonstrates a blend of traditional and modern building techniques, improving the living experience within the cabin.

The design details of the shingle facade mirror the natural environment, creating a visual link to the hills, while the light wood creates a peaceful indoor setting that encourages reflection and mindfulness.

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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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