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Transparent Glass Retreat With Monolithic Slate Core Integrating Nature and Functionality

Authors:
Obinna Elechi, Greg Broerman
Transparent Glass Retreat With Monolithic Slate Core Integrating Nature and Functionality

Project in-detail

Combining a monolithic slate core with a transparent glass façade, the design allows for seamless integration with the surrounding landscape while offering versatile guest accommodations that emphasize sustainability and a strong connection to nature.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes a monolithic slate core for utility housing and thermal mass.
02
Incorporates living grass floors and private gardens for enhanced biophilia.
03
Transparent glass walls maximize natural light and landscape views.
04
Designed for year-round use with passive heating and cooling systems.
05
Rooms oriented to provide views of natural phenomena, such as the Northern Lights.

### Project Overview
"The Outdoor Rooms" is located in a rural area, influenced by the natural landscape and geological features characteristic of regions like Iceland. The project presents a distinct approach to outdoor living by integrating three types of guest accommodations—single, double, and triple rooms—designed to foster engagement with the surrounding environment. The intent is to provide guests with a contemporary lodging experience that blends indoor comforts with an immersive connection to nature.

### Architectural Form and Spatial Strategy
The design employs a transparent, greenhouse-like structure for each guest room, maximizing natural light and offering unobstructed views of the countryside. This configuration reinforces the connection between interior spaces and the external environment. Traditional gable roofs complement the modern façades, achieving a visual harmony that references conventional barn-like structures while introducing a contemporary aesthetic. Each unit incorporates a living grass floor and a private garden, enhancing the overall experience of natural immersion.

### Materiality and Sustainability
The primary materials include glass, wood, and slate, each selected for their specific functional and aesthetic contributions. Glass façades facilitate light penetration and visibility, while wood is used for structural framing and finishes, adding warmth and texture. The slate forms a monolithic core that provides thermal mass, collecting solar energy to regulate internal temperatures passively. Living grass floors and diverse plantings contribute to the ecological integrity of the site, promoting biodiversity and enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the rooms. The layout is designed to minimize environmental impact, adhering to principles of sustainability and ecological balance.

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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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