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Brick Facade with Communal Balconies Supporting Urban Interaction

Authors:
Zygmunt Maniaczyk, Marcin Kitala
Brick Facade with Communal Balconies Supporting Urban Interaction

Project in-detail

The design showcases a brick facade with integrated communal balconies that facilitate social interaction, serving as a dynamic community hub in the heart of Adelaide.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design includes a dual facade that engages both the street and the natural landscape.
02
Communal balconies create direct connections to the surrounding community.
03
A flexible interior layout accommodates a variety of activities and uses.
04
The building’s massing contributes to the transition between suburban and urban scales.
05
Integration with local historical architecture enhances the site's cultural context.

The architectural design, titled "Cell of Freedom," is located in Adelaide and functions as a community hub that aims to blend the city's historical roots with modern urban life. The project encourages interaction among its users by integrating both public and private spaces. It acts as a bridge within the existing urban environment, enhancing the neighborhood's character while fostering social connections.

Concept and Spatial Organization

The design features two distinct facades, representing different aspects of its concept. One facade emphasizes simplicity, while the other opens toward the city, providing views of the surrounding hills. This duality allows the building to engage meaningfully with its surroundings. The layout prioritizes flexibility, providing various areas for different activities, enabling occupants to shape their experiences within the space.

Connection with Historical Context

The open ground floor design encourages community use, incorporating shared areas that invite social interaction. Vertical stands and common balconies connect the structure with notable local buildings like the General Post Office and Adelaide Arcade. This thoughtful linking anchors the development in its historical setting, allowing the new building to resonate with the fabric of the city and create a sense of belonging.

Material Relationships

Though not extensively detailed, the project references the brick wall of the General Post Office, highlighting a connection to local materials. The use of brick brings warmth and a sense of familiarity to the design, aligning it with the craftsmanship found in nearby historical structures. Such material choices are crucial for fostering spaces that support community interactions while remaining true to the local context.

User Engagement and Community Dynamics

The design aims to promote personal and communal engagement in an urban environment. It incorporates areas where street culture can flourish, meeting diverse needs within a shared setting. This focus on open and adaptable spaces fosters a lively atmosphere and encourages interactions, ultimately enriching the social fabric of the community.

The facade features a mix of solid and transparent elements, allowing natural light to filter into the interior. This design choice enhances the spaces throughout the day, creating a welcoming environment for users.

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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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