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Terraced Cabins with Birch Plywood and Natural Surroundings

Authors:
Katsushi Goto, Khushboo Vyas, Anjali Rajmohan
Terraced Cabins with Birch Plywood and Natural Surroundings

Project in-detail

Characterized by interlocking volumes and a terraced garden for greywater management, the design offers a sustainable retreat in Oleiros that emphasizes the connection between nature and user experience.
5 key facts about this project
01
Interlocking cabin volumes enhance spatial flexibility and user experience.
02
Terraced garden integrates greywater treatment into the overall design.
03
Skylights optimize natural light while framing views of the surrounding landscape.
04
Modular construction allows for easy assembly and site adaptation.
05
Birch plywood used as a primary structural material promotes sustainability.

Metamorph is located in Oleiros, within the landscape of a meditation retreat. The design focuses on the idea of inbetweenness, creating a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. The cabins are designed to blend with the landscape, enhancing the relationship between the architecture and the natural surroundings. This approach provides a calm environment that supports meditation and introspection.

Spatial Organization

The layout of each cabin includes interlocking areas for therapy, meditation, and cleansing, allowing for various uses while keeping a strong link to the outdoors. Skylights are strategically placed to bring in natural light, casting gentle shadows that enrich the interior space. The open corners of each cabin offer expansive views of the valley, encouraging users to engage with the surrounding nature.

Modularity and Structural Integrity

A significant feature of the design is its modular nature, promoting flexibility in how the cabins can be constructed or relocated. Built over a grid system that uses rotational geometries, these cabins can be easily assembled, replicated, or dismantled based on site needs. Birch plywood is used for both the base plate and structural components, enabling efficient prefabrication that aligns with modern building practices.

Sustainability and Landscape Integration

The project includes a terraced garden designed to process greywater from the cabins and existing retreat facilities. This feature enhances sustainability and improves the visual appeal of the site. Nutrient-rich wastewater flows through a series of planted terraces, supporting environmental health while providing a calming backdrop for users.

Each cabin is more than just a standalone structure; it interacts with its environment in a way that creates a sense of balance. The design invites users to reflect and connect with the natural world, fostering a deep sense of peace and contemplation.

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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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