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A Multi-Use High-Rise with Charred Timber Shingles and Vertical Gardens

Authors:
Shiyen Wu, Jun-han Huang, Pei-shan Chen, CHUN-TENG LIN
A Multi-Use High-Rise with Charred Timber Shingles and Vertical Gardens

Project in-detail

Constructed with charred wooden shingles and enhanced by biophilic green walls, the design integrates residential and commercial spaces to promote community interaction within an urban setting.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with charred timber shingles for durability and resistance.
02
Features vertical green walls that improve biodiversity and air quality.
03
Utilizes cross-laminated timber panels for strength and efficiency.
04
Provides flexible communal interiors adaptable to changing needs.
05
Maximizes natural light and views through expansive glazed openings.

FACTORY TOWER presents a vertical mixed-use tower that redefines urban living by merging community, ecology, and flexible architecture. Designed as a contemporary cohabitation model, it integrates housing, retail, and shared facilities within a form shaped by renewable materials and biophilic design principles.

Materiality and Structure
The building employs cross-laminated timber panels as primary structural elements, supplemented by charred timber shingles that enhance durability and weather resistance while giving the facade a textured, organic character. A bent A-frame geometry supports the tower’s structural integrity, while glass and steel elements provide contrast, transparency, and openness.

Spatial Strategy
Large, strategically placed windows maximize daylight penetration and frame views of the surrounding city, reducing reliance on artificial lighting. Flexible floor layouts allow for residential, commercial, and communal uses to coexist, with open-plan interiors adaptable to shifting needs. This design flexibility reflects contemporary demands for multifunctional urban spaces.

Biophilic Integration
Vertical green walls and rooftop gardens establish a direct relationship between architecture and ecology. These natural elements improve air quality, promote biodiversity, and offer restorative green spaces for occupants. The integration of greenery also reduces heat gain and supports passive cooling, contributing to the building’s environmental performance.

Sustainability Features
Sustainability is embedded through the use of renewable and reclaimed materials, high-performance glazing systems, and energy-efficient mechanical solutions. Smart technologies further optimize building operations, reducing the overall carbon footprint and supporting long-term resilience.

Community and Shared Spaces
Beyond private residences and commercial areas, the project incorporates shared communal zones designed for adaptability. These spaces can host cultural events, neighborhood gatherings, or informal encounters, reinforcing social cohesion within the vertical community.

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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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