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Butterfly Roofs and Straw Bale Walls in a Community Hub Design

Authors:
Marco Marchetti, Giulia Turci
Butterfly Roofs and Straw Bale Walls in a Community Hub Design

Project in-detail

The butterfly roof and straw bale walls create an environmentally responsive community hub that promotes interaction and sustainability through its carefully designed spaces.
5 key facts about this project
01
Butterfly roof design optimizes solar gain and temperature regulation.
02
Straw bale walls provide excellent insulation and environmental sustainability.
03
Service area is strategically placed to protect from cold winter winds.
04
Integrated rainwater management captures runoff from the roof.
05
Outdoor kitchen enhances community engagement and social interaction.

The project emerges as a carefully considered integration of functional spaces focused on sustainability and community engagement, set within a natural environment. It aims to provide various amenities that enhance user experience, allowing for interaction while showing a commitment to environmental awareness. The layout is organized to facilitate easy movement through spaces that accommodate both public and recreational activities.

Programme Structure

The overall layout includes important areas such as a Ticket Sales Area, an Information Centre with a Multi-Purpose Room, and multiple Storage Areas. A conveniently placed WC ensures accessibility for visitors. A Cafe Area with a kitchen promotes social interaction, while additions like a Children Playground and Outdoor Kitchen Counter encourage outdoor activities. This combination enhances usability and prioritizes a welcoming atmosphere for community interaction.

Climate-Responsive Design

A notable feature is the Butterfly Roof, which has been designed to respond effectively to climate conditions. This roof allows for ample sunlight during winter, promoting warmth, while also providing shade to cool the interior during summer. The northern placement of the Service Area protects visitors from cold winter winds, showcasing a thoughtful approach to local weather patterns that enhances comfort throughout the year.

Sustainability Features

The project integrates an effective Rainwater Management system that reflects a commitment to sustainability. Rainwater flows from the Butterfly Roof’s design into a gutter, leading to a storage tank. This system conserves water and reduces the need to rely on external sources, emphasizing an environmentally responsible approach to resource management.

Structural Elements

The design incorporates various structural components, including Timber Beams, Polycarbonate Bubble Wrap, a Straw Bale Wall, Tyre Foundation, and Straw Bale Floor. Each element contributes to the building's thermal efficiency and structural durability, supporting the project's environmental goals and making it well-suited for modern needs.

The design focuses on fostering community interaction and creating spaces that are user-friendly. By blending functionality with environmental considerations, the project achieves a balance that enhances the overall experience for its users and aligns with the surrounding 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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