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Carbon Concrete Towers With Kerto Wood Integration Enhancing Community Resilience

Authors:
Jonas Kurtscheidt, Karsten Heuser
Carbon Concrete Towers With Kerto Wood Integration Enhancing Community Resilience

Project in-detail

Utilizing carbon concrete and Kerto wood, the design creates high towers that foster community resilience while integrating marketplaces and vertical farms for sustainable living.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes carbon concrete for nearly column-free construction.
02
Incorporates Kerto wood sourced from sustainably managed forests.
03
Features a vertical farm integrated within the community framework.
04
Design promotes pedestrian connectivity through a network of paths.
05
Includes a fully automated energy management system for efficiency.

The Pilgrims' Hive is a new design that addresses the challenges of urban living projected for the coming decades. Set against the backdrop of increasing urbanization, the project aims to create a space that blends community needs with environmental considerations. The design reflects a vision where nature, interaction, and self-discovery coexist, shaping a new way of life for its inhabitants.

Conceptual Framework

The design draws inspiration from the idea of a pilgrimage, capturing the essence of personal and communal journeys. Spaces are thoughtfully arranged to promote social interaction, sharing of knowledge, and opportunities for spiritual growth. This leads to a mix of marketplaces, vertical farms, and educational areas, all working together to encourage residents to engage with their surroundings and with each other.



Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

Central to the plan is the Zero Carbon Emission Tower, which embodies an approach to sustainability. It uses a combination of renewable energy sources, including geothermal, solar, wind, and biogas. These resources allow the tower to function with minimal environmental impact. A fully automated system manages energy use and production, making it a practical example of how cities can adopt greener technologies.



Material Use and Construction Techniques

The structure benefits from advanced materials such as carbon concrete and Kerto wood. Carbon concrete allows for an airy design with fewer columns, providing open and flexible spaces. Kerto wood, used from sustainably managed forests, adds to the building’s stability while adhering to ecological principles. Together, these materials support the project's goals while ensuring durability.



Spatial Organization and Aesthetic

The spatial design features tall towers that serve as focal points in the layout. The arrangement includes intertwined squares that merge into triangular shapes, creating varied spaces for different activities. This thoughtful organization not only supports community interaction but also invites exploration from residents and visitors alike. The architecture is designed with attention to how people move through and experience the space.

The focus remains on fostering connections within the community while maintaining a commitment to environmental care. Each element contributes to a vision of urban life that harmonizes living, working, and interacting.

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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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