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Black Steel Cladding with Notched Beams for Flexible Community Living

Author:
Craig More
Black Steel Cladding with Notched Beams for Flexible Community Living

Project in-detail

Black steel cladding and notched beams define a flexible community space that balances individual artist studios with communal gathering areas, all while prioritizing views of the adjacent lake.
5 key facts about this project
01
Black steel cladding provides durability and low maintenance.
02
Notched beams reflect traditional construction techniques.
03
SIPs contribute to high energy efficiency and thermal comfort.
04
Central shared gallery fosters community interaction.
05
Wind turbine and reed bed enhance sustainability efforts.

Rupjmaize House is a residential design that connects closely with its natural surroundings. Located by a lake, the building emphasizes the views of water and sunsets. The design concept focuses on flexibility, enabling different spaces to serve various functions, including individual studios for artists and communal areas for gathering. The layout encourages social interaction among the residents while providing private spaces for reflection.

Materials and Construction

The building uses materials that support both durability and aesthetic quality. Black steel sheet cladding makes up the exterior, providing a tough and low-maintenance surface that fits with the tradition of metal sheet roofing. Inside, the roof is composed of Structural Insulated Panels. These panels offer excellent insulation, helping to keep the interior comfortable throughout the seasons.

Spatial Organization

The arrangement of spaces promotes ease of movement and connection. A central shared gallery links the artist studios and living areas, facilitating community engagement. This setup allows residents to enjoy both shared experiences and personal time. Large triple-glazed windows are featured throughout the design. These windows allow natural light to flood the interior, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Sustainability Features

Rupjmaize House incorporates several sustainable features that reflect a commitment to the environment. A wind turbine is installed to harness renewable energy. Additionally, a septic tank system combined with a filtration reed bed manages wastewater effectively. Together, these systems highlight the building's focus on ecological responsibility and innovative design.

The design emphasizes a connection to the outdoor landscape. Views of the lake are prioritized, welcoming natural light into the living spaces through strategically positioned rooflights, creating a harmonious relationship between the interiors and the environment 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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