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Brass Accents and Green Roofs Enhance Natural Visitor Experience

Author:
Frederik Cuyvers
Brass Accents and Green Roofs Enhance Natural Visitor Experience

Project in-detail

With its circular layout and central water fountain, the design incorporates brass details and an extensive green roof, providing an engaging environment for visitors to connect with the surrounding nature reserve.
5 key facts about this project
01
Circular layout maximizes land use while preserving the surrounding environment.
02
Central water fountain serves as a focal point for social interaction among visitors.
03
Extensive green roof contributes to local biodiversity and reduces heat gain.
04
Brass details enhance aesthetic appeal and integrate with the natural context.
05
Natural ventilation strategies decrease reliance on mechanical cooling systems.

The Abu Dhabi Flamingo Visitor Center is located in a unique ecological area, serving as a hub for visitors interested in the rich biodiversity of the nearby nature reserve. Designed with a circular shape, it responds to the intersecting roads that provide access to the site, ensuring efficient use of land while protecting the existing landscape. This layout encourages exploration and interaction, making it a welcoming space for those looking to connect with nature.



Spatial Arrangement

The design is centered around a large water fountain and courtyard, forming a focal point that promotes social gathering and relaxation. Key spaces, including the training room, display area, café, and shop, are thoughtfully positioned to facilitate easy movement and clear navigation. This spatial arrangement not only serves practical needs but also enhances the overall experience for visitors.



Climate Control and Sustainability

Natural ventilation plays an important role in the visitor center's design, with the water fountain contributing to a cooling effect throughout the interior. By using natural elements for temperature regulation, the building minimizes dependence on mechanical cooling systems. This approach reflects a growing awareness in architecture of the need for environmentally friendly and resource-efficient solutions.



Materials and Structural Features

The choice of materials such as hardwood, brass, and in-situ concrete is significant to the project's vision. Hardwood and brass add an appealing aesthetic and connect the structure to its ecological context, while in-situ concrete allows for flexible and durable design variations. Together, these materials ensure that the building is not only functional but also visually integrated into its surroundings.



The visitor center's sections and elevations illustrate the careful consideration of its relationship with the natural environment. Features like the extensive green roof promote biodiversity and mitigate heat gain. This thoughtful integration is evident in details such as the courtyard, where the tranquil water feature invites a moment of pause and reflection amid the beauty of the landscape.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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