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Acoustic Inverted Roof Enhancing Sensory Experience in Urban Living

Author:
Xintong (emily) Yan
Acoustic Inverted Roof Enhancing Sensory Experience in Urban Living

Project in-detail

The acoustically responsive inverted roof of this residence integrates sensory experiences into a central courtyard, promoting interaction with natural elements within a safe living space for the visually impaired.
5 key facts about this project
01
The central courtyard facilitates sensory interactions with natural elements.
02
Walls designed to resemble shutter blinds ensure privacy while enhancing interior acoustics.
03
The staircase spirals outward, promoting both movement and exploration within the home.
04
Rainfall creates a unique acoustic experience as water flows through the inverted roof.
05
The structure prioritizes safety and autonomy for visually impaired residents.

The house for the blind is designed for a low-density urban area with a moderate climate. It occupies an empty lot characterized by neighboring buildings that stand perpendicular to it. The design aims to redefine the experience of blindness, highlighting the importance of engaging with the world through senses other than sight. Overall, it presents a thoughtful approach to creating spaces that promote autonomy and connection with the environment.

Central Courtyard

A central courtyard serves as the focal point of this design. It offers a space for sensory experiences, allowing residents to feel the wind and hear the sounds of nature. This area provides opportunities for quiet reflection as well as social interaction, balancing private and communal needs. It plays a key role in how inhabitants experience their home.



Wall Structures

The tall walls of the house rise from the ground to the roof, resembling the function of shutter blinds. These walls provide privacy, shielding residents from outside views, while also creating a calm atmosphere within. Their height contributes to a sense of security and envelopment, enhancing the experience of sound and touch for those who live here.



Staircase and Circulation

The staircase is an important feature that connects various parts of the home. It guides residents through the space, allowing movement while also offering protection from outside observation. As it extends from the tangents of a spiral, the staircase combines both function and design, promoting exploration within the home and ensuring that each transition feels natural.



Inverted Cone-shaped Roof

The roof takes on an inverted cone shape, created by overlapping two spirals. During rain, this roof acts like a drum skin, making sounds that resonate through the space. Each raindrop runs through the spiral gutter, filling the home with a unique acoustic experience. This design detail creates an ongoing connection between the building and its surroundings, enriching the sensory experience for all who enter.

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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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