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Sculptural Walkways And Transparent Enclosures With Native Wood Elements In A Wetland Visitor Center

Authors:
Badia Soffia, Lucas Prado besa, Macarena Freitag del Río, Daniela Hermosilla Ossa
Sculptural Walkways And Transparent Enclosures With Native Wood Elements In A Wetland Visitor Center

Project in-detail

Elevated walkways and sculptural wooden elements in a visitor center harmonize with the wetland landscape while providing educational engagement about the local ecosystem.
5 key facts about this project
01
Elevated walkways minimize ecological impact while enhancing visitor experiences in wetlands.
02
Cross-laminated timber panels provide structural integrity and sustainable material sourcing.
03
Charred wooden shingles offer weather resilience and a visually appealing finish.
04
The bent A-frame design promotes natural ventilation and aesthetic fluidity.
05
Integrated educational displays inform visitors about local biodiversity and ecosystems.

### Overview
Kemeri National Park, located west of Jurmala, Latvia, spans 381.65 square kilometers and features diverse ecosystems, including lowland forests and wetlands. Established in 1997, the park serves as a habitat for various species and aims to promote environmental awareness among visitors. The design of Kemeri’s Log is intended to create an engaging interaction between visitors and these natural ecosystems, offering a dedicated space for education and reflection.

### Spatial Interaction and Visitor Engagement
The design incorporates a focal point where multiple paths converge at "project bridge B," strategically framing views of the wetlands, a distinguishing characteristic of the park. The structure functions as a gallery, emphasizing the ecological significance of the area, particularly for endemic species such as the Black Stork. Elevated walkways made from sustainable materials weave through the wetlands, allowing safe access while minimizing ecological disruption. This approach encourages exploration and intentional pauses, inviting users to observe and engage with their surroundings.

### Material Choices and Construction Techniques
Material selection is integral to the project, balancing aesthetic qualities with functional demands. Native wood is utilized to harmonize with the landscape and promote sustainability, while a steel framework provides structural resilience. Waterproof enclosures protect gallery spaces from the region’s wet conditions, ensuring durability. The use of a permeable membrane facilitates natural ventilation, reflecting the forest's aesthetic while reducing ecological impact. Transparent glass panels enhance visual connections to the wetlands, blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor environments and enriching the visitor experience.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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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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