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Unearthing Calm Through Gray Concrete and Rammed Earth in Urban Environments

Authors:
Coral Canedo, Ricardo Lichtle
Unearthing Calm Through Gray Concrete and Rammed Earth in Urban Environments
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Gray concrete and rammed earth create a contemplative pavilion that enhances urban living by providing a tranquil space for meditation and connection with nature.
5 key facts about this project
01
Gray concrete creates a stark contrast with the rammed earth, highlighting the transition between urban and natural elements.
02
The pavilion features a labyrinthine layout, guiding visitors toward a center for reflection and meditation.
03
Uneven walls of rammed earth evoke a sense of wild nature, enhancing user engagement with the space.
04
A carefully designed pathway fosters introspection, encouraging visitors to reflect while navigating through the structure.
05
The project emphasizes sustainability by integrating natural elements within an urban landscape to promote environmental awareness.

ITERRARIA is a pavilion designed to blend human experiences with nature in an urban setting. It serves as a small enclosure for selected plants and occasionally small animals. The design draws inspiration from labyrinths, guiding visitors from the noise of city life to moments of calm and reflection, offering a unique spatial experience.

Materials

The project employs concrete and rammed earth as its primary materials. Concrete provides a sturdy, durable base that reflects the character of urban environments. In contrast, rammed earth adds a softer, more tactile element, connecting users to the natural world. Together, these materials highlight the relationship between constructed spaces and their natural surroundings, reinforcing the pavilion's theme of coexistence.

Pathway Design

At the heart of ITERRARIA is a carefully designed pathway that encourages meditation. As visitors move through the space, they experience a sense of unease created by uneven rammed earth walls. This design choice evokes the wildness of nature and prompts reflection. As users follow the path, they are guided toward the center, deepening their contemplation along the way.

User Engagement

The pavilion aims to foster a strong connection with nature. Walking through ITERRARIA reveals a contrast between the hard surfaces of the city and the natural elements within the space. This transition invites visitors to think about the role of nature in their lives. Interactive moments throughout the journey not only engage the senses but also prompt personal reflection.

Light filters through the structure, creating shifting patterns on the surfaces. This changing interplay enhances engagement with the space, subtly inviting users to contemplate their relationship with nature amid the complexities of modern life. Each visit provides a different experience, as the environment adapts with the passage of time.

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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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