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Buoyant Complex of Steel and Plastic Engaging Emergent Ocean Environments

Author:
Márcio Valença
Buoyant Complex of Steel and Plastic Engaging Emergent Ocean Environments

Project in-detail

Constructed from buoyant steel and plastic, the floating complex offers an adaptive environment that explores the complexities of humanity while providing essential services within oceanic settings.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using buoyant net balls made from repurposed plastic.
02
Incorporates sections representing different facets of human experience: bright, blur, and dark.
03
Sustainability features include a solar panel power station and water desalinization unit.
04
Designed for adjustable height, allowing expansion to accommodate future needs.
05
Facilitates visitor interaction with human specimens in designated observation areas.

The design features a floating complex located within deep-sea environments, tailored to meet the unique challenges presented by the ocean. The aim is to represent the complexities of humanity, showcasing both strengths and weaknesses. This structure adapts to the surrounding marine context, allowing for growth and evolution while emphasizing a commitment to sustainability.

Design Concept

The main building is capable of adjusting to various ocean depths. It allows for vertical expansion through additional rings that can be added after initial construction. This flexibility not only addresses structural demands but also enables a continuous architectural narrative. Organized into three sections—bright, blur, and dark—the design symbolizes different aspects of human experience, with divisions that highlight inherent contradictions.

Structural Elements

Resembling a sectioned cone, the main building is supported by a central steel mast. This mast serves as the focal point for visitor observation platforms. Visitors can engage with displays featuring human specimens, prompting exploration of existence and identity. Every three floors, access walkways facilitate movement, offering an engaging experience as individuals navigate through the various stories presented by the architecture.

Service Islands

Surrounding the primary structure, secondary service islands provide key support functions. These islands feature a solar panel power station, a digital communication port, and a water desalinization unit. These elements work together to enhance sustainability and self-sufficiency. The design of these islands allows for adaptability, ensuring that they can evolve as new technologies emerge, reinforcing their importance within the maritime environment.

Sustainable Materials and Mechanisms

A notable aspect of the floating complex is the use of net balls filled with plastic and other debris to achieve stability and buoyancy. This solution allows the structure to remain effective above the water’s surface while addressing concerns related to ocean pollution. The integration of discarded materials into the design emphasizes a connection with environmental responsibility.

The main building incorporates spaces for human remains, DNA deposits, and personal artifacts, layered within the architecture. This arrangement encourages visitors to reflect on life, memory, and legacy as they engage with the various elements of the structure.

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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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