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Bumpy Pathways Through Green Spaces in Semi-Detached Housing

Author:
Viktoria Jackiewicz
Bumpy Pathways Through Green Spaces in Semi-Detached Housing

Project in-detail

Bumpy floor panels guide residents through a sensory garden with curvy pathways and openwork brick walls, offering a supportive habitat for visually impaired individuals in a series of semi-detached houses.
5 key facts about this project
01
Bumpy floor panels provide tactile navigation for residents.
02
A sensory garden features curvy pathways designed for safety and exploration.
03
Openwork brick walls differentiate private and communal spaces.
04
The design preserves 22 out of 26 existing trees on the site.
05
Multiple apartments are included in each semi-detached house for efficient land use.

The design focuses on creating housing for visually impaired individuals, located in Wrocław, Poland. The concept involves a series of semi-detached houses connected by a sensory garden. This garden acts as a communal area that encourages social interaction and offers a space for outdoor activities. The overall aim is to enhance accessibility while ensuring safety and comfort for the residents.

Design Concept

Accessibility is at the core of this plan. The apartments feature a layout designed with a linear arrangement that uses bumpy floor panels. These panels serve as tactile indications, helping residents navigate their homes with ease. The design promotes independence by allowing individuals to engage with their surroundings confidently. It acknowledges the importance of both safety and exploration in daily living.

Spatial Organization

A key element of the design is the clear distinction between private and shared spaces. Full or openwork brick walls define the boundaries of private areas, while also facilitating interaction with communal spaces. The sensory garden stands out as a central feature, offering curvy pathways and railings that enhance safety for users. This organization fosters social connections without compromising personal privacy, creating a balanced residential experience.

Sustainability and Materiality

The project also addresses environmental concerns and follows Polish regulations related to housing density. Each semi-detached unit is designed to accommodate multiple apartments, which maximizes land use while meeting community demands. Attention is given to material choices, with plans to use demolition brick and hemp concrete. These materials align with sustainable building practices, helping to minimize ecological impact during construction.

The sensory garden is thoughtfully designed, with pathways that meander through well-landscaped spaces. These paths not only support physical movement but also promote emotional well-being. They provide a tranquil environment for residents, inviting them to connect with nature and enjoy their surroundings.

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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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