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Charred Wooden Shingles and Cross-Laminated Timber Envelop a Flexible Community Hub

Authors:
Aliou Bocoum, Alphonse Rodrigue Mfoulou Mfoulou, Maurice Joyce Tchapet Samen
Charred Wooden Shingles and Cross-Laminated Timber Envelop a Flexible Community Hub

Project in-detail

With a facade of charred wooden shingles and an interior framed by cross-laminated timber, the design creates a versatile community hub that fosters social interaction and environmental awareness.
5 key facts about this project
01
The building features a bent A-frame design that enhances structural stability while creating visually compelling interior spaces.
02
Charred wooden shingles provide a durable, fire-resistant exterior that blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings.
03
Cross-laminated timber panels are utilized to create expansive open spaces, maximizing flexibility for various community activities.
04
Native landscaping integrates local flora to enhance biodiversity and reduce irrigation needs, supporting environmental sustainability.
05
Movable partitions within the interior allow for adaptable spaces, catering to diverse community needs and events.
The project at hand is an architectural design that embodies a thoughtful response to its context while serving a specific community function. Nestled within its geographical location, the project represents a merging of innovative design principles with a conscientious consideration for its surroundings. This building is meant to facilitate social interaction and provide a functional space that caters to both individual needs and community gatherings.

Functionally, the design serves as a multi-purpose facility, effectively accommodating various activities and ensuring flexibility in usage. Its layout is carefully organized to enhance usability, allowing for both private and public spaces that can be easily navigated. The project includes areas designated for recreation, collaboration, and learning, all purposefully designed to encourage engagement among users while maintaining a sense of comfort.

The project's architectural style reflects contemporary influences, characterized by a harmonious blend of materials that play a significant role in its integrity and aesthetic. The primary structure is constructed using reinforced concrete, providing a robust framework that supports large spans and open spaces. This material choice not only allows for significant flexibility in interior layouts but also contributes to durability and low maintenance needs.

Large expanses of glass are incorporated into the facade, enhancing natural light penetration throughout the interiors. This design approach fosters a visual connection between the indoor environments and the surrounding landscape while promoting an eco-friendly ethos through passive solar design. The use of glass also creates a sense of openness, inviting community members to engage with the building’s activities from the exterior.

Complementing the concrete and glass, wood accents are utilized in both structural and aesthetic capacities. Features such as wooden canopies and interior cladding introduce warmth and texture, offering a contrast to the more industrial materials. The selection of sustainably sourced wood not only aligns with current architectural trends but also emphasizes a commitment to environmental stewardship.

Landscaping plays a critical role in the overall success of the project. Green roofs and native plantings are strategically integrated to enhance biodiversity while softening the building edges, creating a seamless transition between architecture and nature. These outdoor areas serve not only as recreational spaces but also as educational platforms, promoting awareness of local ecology and sustainability practices.

Throughout the design, unique approaches to spatial organization are evident. The layout maximizes connectivity among spaces, using clear sightlines to encourage movement and interaction. Flexible walls and movable partitions allow for adaptability, ensuring that the facility can accommodate a variety of events and user needs. This versatility is particularly important in community-focused buildings, where the requirements of users can shift over time.

The architectural design reflects a thoughtful synthesis of form and function, ensuring that the project not only meets the immediate needs of its users but also contributes to the long-term vitality of the community. Emphasizing sustainability and engagement, this design stands as a model for future architectural endeavors that seek to integrate social responsibility with innovative solutions.

For those interested in exploring the project further, delving into the architectural plans, sections, and designs will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the thoughtful ideas that underpin this work. This exploration will highlight the intricacies of the design and reveal the careful considerations that informed the overall architectural narrative.
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100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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100,000€ Prize / 2025

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

Competition organisers

The 10th edition of the MICROHOME architecture competition invites architects and designers from around the world to explore the possibilities of compact, sustainable living. Hosted by Buildner in collaboration with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this special edition challenges participants to design an off-grid, modular microhome for a young professional couple, with a maximum floor area of 25 m². Designs should prioritize innovation, efficiency, and real-world feasibility. 

A total prize fund of 100,000 € will be awarded, including three main prizes, the Kingspan Award, and the Hapi Homes Award, which will grant 15,000 € and lead to the construction of the selected design. The final registration deadline is September 25, 2025, and winners will be announced on Decebmer 9, 2025. For full competition details and submission guidelines, visit microhome.info.

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
Early bird registration deadline 22 May 2025
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