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Upward Angles and Concrete Portals Enhancing Mountain Views in a Café Setting

Author:
Manasi Gungabeesoon
Upward Angles and Concrete Portals Enhancing Mountain Views in a Café Setting

Project in-detail

Elevated concrete portals frame panoramic mountain views in a café designed to enhance visitor engagement with the surrounding landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Portals carved into concrete walls frame views of the surrounding mountains.
02
The upward-angled floor simulates the ascent of a mountain, enhancing the experience.
03
Large glass panes provide 360-degree views from the elevated exhibition space.
04
Prefab concrete construction ensures durability while blending with the natural landscape.
05
The turf roof adds insulation and connects the building to its environment.

The Summit Café is designed to blend with the dramatic landscape of the surrounding mountains. It serves as a welcoming space for visitors, offering coffee and a chance to appreciate the natural beauty outside. The design emphasizes connections to the environment, creating an inviting atmosphere that encourages people to engage with the landscape.

Framing the Landscape
The building features portals carved into its walls. These openings allow views of the mountains and let natural light flood into the café. By framing the scenery, the design creates a continuous connection between the inside and outside. This approach allows visitors to enjoy the changing landscapes throughout their time in the café.

Functional Spaces
Inside the café, various functional areas are organized to support different activities. There are seating areas, a kitchen, a coffee counter, and exhibition spaces. Each area is designed with purpose and comfort in mind, making it easy for guests to navigate the café. The layout helps to create a relaxed atmosphere for anyone who enters.

The Summit Experience
One of the standout features is the upward-angled floor that simulates the feeling of climbing a mountain. Stairs carved into the concrete take visitors to an elevated space called "Summit." From this height, visitors can enjoy panoramic views through large glass panes. The layout not only provides beautiful sights but also connects guests to the geological features of the area.

Material Integration
The construction primarily uses prefab concrete, a choice made for both its strength and appearance. The roof is covered with turf, which insulates the building and ties the café to its natural surroundings. The materials are selected to reflect the ruggedness of the landscape while ensuring practical use for day-to-day operations.

The ceiling in the exhibition area features linear lighting that outlines the mountain's curves, drawing attention to the structure's connection with the landscape. This detail enhances the café's welcoming atmosphere while reminding visitors of the beauty outside.

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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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