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Timber Structures Embracing Community Interaction in Latvia's Forest Festival

Authors:
Bennet Harvey, Madison Leonard
Timber Structures Embracing Community Interaction in Latvia's Forest Festival

Project in-detail

Stacked timber structures create a dynamic space for vendors and community interaction within a summer festival setting in Aknīste, Latvia.
5 key facts about this project
01
Timber construction minimizes environmental impact by repurposing cut trees.
02
A stacked design provides structural support and creates hierarchy among vendor spaces.
03
Dedicated circulation paths enhance movement and interaction during the festival.
04
Natural lighting from fairy lights and campfires creates an inviting atmosphere.
05
The project integrates smoothly with the surrounding forest landscape.

The design located in the Aknīste district of Latvia offers a thoughtful mix of architecture and nature within the setting of a summer music festival. The aim is to create practical spaces that accommodate both vendors and festival-goers, fostering a lively atmosphere. The concept revolves around the relationship between the built environment and the surrounding landscape, enhancing the gathering experience for visitors.

Functional Organization

The layout organizes several important components, including three vendor spaces, a storage facility, a partially covered dining area, and an outdoor courtyard. This arrangement enhances movement and encourages interaction among attendees during the festival. Dedicated windows for ordering, picking up, and dropping off food and cutlery streamline the flow of activity, contributing to an overall efficient environment.

Construction Methods

Two primary construction techniques are utilized: stacked wood construction and simple framing. The stacked wood structure is built first, providing necessary support for the simpler elements that follow. This method creates a clear hierarchy among the catering spaces. It also minimizes the ecological footprint by preserving existing trees and reusing any timber that is cut down during construction, reflecting a commitment to sustainability.

Materiality and Aesthetics

Timber is a key element in this design, forming a strong connection between the structures and the forest environment. This natural material offers the required structural support while enhancing visual harmony with the landscape. As daylight fades, lighting from fairy lights and campfires brings warmth to the area, creating an inviting space that encourages social interaction.

The design improves user experience through careful planning and attention to ecological impact. Spaces are arranged thoughtfully, facilitating connections among people. The wood elements add a tactile quality, inviting visitors to engage with their surroundings and fostering a sense of community in the festival setting.

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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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