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Bricks and Spirals Shaping Community Connections Through Natural Light

Authors:
Eduardo jose Anez alcalde, Valeria Camarra castillo, Jeniffer Roldan carvajal
Bricks and Spirals Shaping Community Connections Through Natural Light

Project in-detail

The spiral form radiates from a central olive tree, incorporating bricks made by community members to foster connections, while abundant natural light enhances spaces for cooking, gathering, and communal activity.
5 key facts about this project
01
The central feature is an olive tree symbolizing community and growth.
02
Walls are constructed from bricks made by local residents, promoting involvement.
03
The spiral design enhances connectivity between indoor and outdoor spaces.
04
Natural light enters through multiple openings, enriching the interior experience.
05
Private and public areas are thoughtfully integrated for optimal accessibility.

The Spiral of Life is situated in the center of the Spiral Community, focusing on connecting residents with nature and each other. The design promotes a variety of activities such as cooking, eating, dancing, exercising, and meditating. At its heart is an olive tree, which symbolizes life and growth, reflecting the community's focus on nurturing relationships.

Design Concept

The layout of the building follows a spiral shape that radiates from the olive tree, illustrating organic growth. This design encourages interaction and engagement among residents, inviting them to participate in communal activities. The structure's form allows it to blend effectively with the natural surroundings, creating a harmonious relationship between the built and natural environments.



Materiality

Walls are constructed from bricks, offering a practical solution that enables community involvement. Villagers can contribute to the building process by making bricks, fostering a sense of ownership. Openings in the structure are placed to allow natural light to flood the interior, enhancing the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces, while promoting a bright and inviting atmosphere.



Spatial Organization

The design thoughtfully balances private and public spaces. Private areas are integrated within open spaces that connect to a central square and the landscape beyond. This arrangement makes it easy for residents to access community amenities while still offering personal retreats. It creates an environment where social interactions can thrive alongside individual privacy.



Natural Light

Natural light plays a significant role in the design, with carefully positioned openings that allow sunlight to illuminate the interior. The central plaza benefits from bright exposure, while the olive tree provides necessary shade for outdoor gatherings. This connection to light and nature enhances the overall experience for residents, making both indoor and outdoor spaces more enjoyable.

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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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