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Timber-Clad Retreat with Thatched Roofs and Integrated Gardens

Authors:
Meiri miki Shinohara, Yu-hsiang Wang, Ryan mu-jung Chiu, Hiroshi Takeyama
Timber-Clad Retreat with Thatched Roofs and Integrated Gardens

Project in-detail

Constructed with dark stained timber cladding and crowned by thatched roofs, the retreat harmonizes with its natural surroundings while providing dedicated spaces for meditation and communal activities.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with dark stained timber cladding for weather durability.
02
Includes thatched roofs to blend with the natural environment.
03
Features dedicated pavilions for varied meditation practices.
04
Utilizes a circular walking path connecting all functional areas.
05
Incorporates a vegetable garden promoting self-sustainability.

A Village of One's Own is an architectural endeavor set against a landscape that recalls traditional Latvian farmsteads. The design focuses on meditation, offering a retreat where individuals can reconnect with nature. This project comprises a series of small pavilions, each dedicated to specific functions, allowing visitors to experience tranquility in a thoughtfully arranged environment.

Conceptual Framework
The main idea of the design is to create spaces that encourage various forms of meditation and contemplation. The pavilions are arranged along a walking path, with dedicated areas for sleeping, workshops, outdoor cooking, and additional features like a jetty and garden. This layout helps foster an awareness of the surrounding environment, allowing visitors to move mindfully between different spaces.

Pavilion Layout
Each pavilion is positioned to enhance views and provide privacy. The overall arrangement resembles traditional farm layouts, creating a harmonious relationship between the buildings and the landscape. These smaller structures accommodate different activities while allowing for a natural flow between them. The layout emphasizes movement and exploration, making the path itself an important part of the experience.

Materiality
Materials selected for the project reflect local architectural practices, focusing on durability and comfort. Among the materials used are foil backed plasterboard, timber flooring, and thatched roofs. These choices not only respect the aesthetic traditions of the area but also improve energy efficiency, ensuring that the buildings are warm and inviting.

Design Integration
A key aspect of this design is the interaction between indoor and outdoor spaces. Visitors have the flexibility to choose where they would like to meditate or engage in activities. The mix of outdoor, semi-outdoor, and indoor areas encourages personal exploration and contemplation. Each pavilion acts as an extension of the landscape, contributing to a serene atmosphere that promotes reflection.

The buildings blend naturally into their surroundings, with thatched roofs echoing the nearby trees. Large rooflights flood the interiors with daylight, providing warmth and enhancing the calm ambiance throughout the day.

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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

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