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Transportable Wooden Structure Overlooking Cernostes Lake

Author:
雅心 蔡
Transportable Wooden Structure Overlooking Cernostes Lake
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Constructed from transportable wooden containers, the design features large glass façades that frame views of Cernostes Lake, creating a flexible living and working space for an artist's family.
5 key facts about this project
01
Transportable wooden containers create a unique construction method.
02
Large glass façades enhance views of Cernostes Lake.
03
The design adapts to the sloped landscape for a natural integration.
04
Interior spaces are designed for both family and artistic flexibility.
05
A central fireplace adds comfort and warmth to communal areas.

The Painters' Lake House is located by Cernostes Lake in Latvia. It serves as both a home and a workspace for an artist's family. The design focuses on simplicity, presenting a rectangular shape that resembles a wooden box. Positioned on a slope facing the lake, the building connects the surrounding green space with the water, integrating the structure into its natural setting.

Design and Layout

The layout consists of a single floor divided into three main blocks. The residential areas are located on the east and west sides, with a central studio and communication space in between. Large glass facades on the north and south sides allow ample natural light to fill the interior. This design choice provides stunning views of the lake and creates a close connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Spatial Dynamics

Inside, a central fireplace adds warmth and creates a welcoming atmosphere. The studio has a lower ceiling height, which makes the space feel more intimate. It is divided into three smaller areas, offering flexibility for different artistic activities. This arrangement can adapt to the needs of the artists and promotes productive work while supporting family life.

Materiality and Construction

The Painters' Lake House features an assembled wood structure made from transportable containers. This method simplifies the construction process, allowing components to be brought directly to the site, which reduces costs and time. The wooden structure also provides good thermal insulation, which helps lower energy usage and supports sustainable design practices.

The single-sloped roof enhances the building’s minimal design while maintaining a low profile in the landscape. This shape works to prevent the structure from blocking views and preserves the natural scenery around it, ensuring that the building remains unobtrusive and blends with its environment.

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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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