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Wooden Shades Over Wetlands Encourage Quiet Observation

Authors:
Raya Daskalova, Tsveta Nedyalkova
Wooden Shades Over Wetlands Encourage Quiet Observation

Project in-detail

Elevated wooden shades provide shelter while offering an unobtrusive vantage for observing wetlands, enhancing the experience of birdwatching in a tranquil natural setting.
5 key facts about this project
01
Elevated observation points enhance the ability to view wildlife without disruption.
02
The spiral pathway encourages a gradual transition through the landscape.
03
Wooden shades provide natural protection from sun and wind while maintaining views.
04
The design emphasizes sustainability by integrating with the local ecology.
05
A focus on silence enhances the overall birdwatching experience.

The evolution observation tower is located in a peaceful wetland area, designed to facilitate birdwatching and create a connection between visitors and the surrounding nature. The design concept focuses on blending with the environment, encouraging thoughtful exploration of the site. The tower features a spiral pathway that leads to elevated observation points, enhancing the experience of watching birds while remaining a subtle presence in the landscape.

Design and Form

The tower's spiral path guides visitors on a gradual ascent, merging into a stilted walkway above the wetlands. This design not only serves a practical purpose but also symbolizes the journey of life, suggesting that there are no wrong choices in one’s path. The structure is kept simple and low-profile, allowing it to harmonize with the natural setting.

Experience and Atmosphere

The emphasis on creating a calm atmosphere is central to the tower’s design. There is no use of electricity or artificial light, allowing natural lighting and the sounds of nature to fill the space. This approach encourages visitors to reflect and engage deeply with their surroundings. Wooden shades provide shelter from the sun and wind while maintaining clear sightlines toward the wetlands.

Materials and Sustainability

Wooden shades are the primary material incorporated into the observation tower, supporting a commitment to environmental sustainability. They serve a dual function by offering protection and ensuring that the structure blends smoothly into its surroundings. This material choice highlights the intention to create a functional space that respects the local ecology.

Spatial Interaction

The design fosters interaction between visitors and the environment, inviting exploration and engagement. By providing defined viewpoints, the tower enhances both quiet contemplation and active observation of birdlife. Each element of the design contributes to an enriched experience, creating a place where visitors can develop a greater appreciation for nature and its inhabitants.

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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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