Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Timber and Thatch Cabins with Rainwater Harvesting Along Historic Amber Road

Author:
Veljko Mladenovic
Timber and Thatch Cabins with Rainwater Harvesting Along Historic Amber Road

Project in-detail

Constructed with local scotch pine and thatch, these cabins incorporate a rainwater harvesting system while providing a sustainable resting place for travelers along the historical Amber Road.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using locally sourced scotch pine, ensuring minimal transportation impact.
02
Thatch roofing provides natural insulation and integrates with the regional environment.
03
Includes a rainwater harvesting system for sustainable water usage in cabins.
04
A bent A-frame design enhances spatial dynamics and offers panoramic views.
05
Flexible modular construction enables relocation along the Amber Road as needed.

## Architectural Analysis Report: Pajumte Amber Road Trekking Cabins

### Overview
Located along the historic Amber Road in Latvia, the Pajumte project consists of a series of trekking cabins designed to provide contemporary accommodations for travelers. The cabins aim to serve as spaces for rest and reflection, thoughtfully merging traditional and modern design elements while enhancing interaction with the surrounding natural landscape. This initiative resonates with the enduring human desire for shelter and connection to nature, echoing the historical significance of the Amber Road as a route traveled by nomadic peoples.

### Spatial Strategy and User Experience
The cabins adopt a distinctive A-frame structure reminiscent of traditional Latvian architecture, facilitating both functionality and community engagement. Upon entry, travelers encounter spaces for social interaction, including a designated area for dining and sleeping on a heated floor. The layout emphasizes communal living, with features such as strategically placed leg-height windows that ensure privacy while framing views of the verdant landscape outside. Moreover, a double-height void within each cabin enhances spatial perception, fostering a sense of security and openness that encourages users to feel both sheltered and connected to their environment.

### Materiality and Sustainability
Pajumte prioritizes sustainable practices and local material sourcing, utilizing Scotch pine timber as the primary structural element. This choice not only supports lightweight construction but is also aligned with local craftsmanship. Thatch cladding is employed for its insulating properties and natural aesthetic, further integrating the cabins into the forested surroundings. Additionally, locally sourced stone is used for foundational and decorative elements, reinforcing the relationship between the structure and its site. A noteworthy sustainable initiative involves planting a tree for every Scotch pine harvested, emphasizing the project's commitment to ecological responsibility. Integrated water collection systems functionally utilize rainwater for domestic uses, enhancing the buildings' sustainability. The design’s transportability allows for flexible placement along the Amber Road, accommodating varying landscapes and user needs.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

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

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy