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Cascading Terraces Featuring Local Stone and Sustainable Materials in Urban Living

Author:
Patrick Lendel Go
Cascading Terraces Featuring Local Stone and Sustainable Materials in Urban Living

Project in-detail

Cascading terraces constructed with local stone and enhanced by myriad outdoor spaces create an integrated urban living experience that harmonizes with the natural landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Cascading terraces designed to blend with the natural topography of Cebu City.
02
Use of local stone to enhance environmental integration and cultural relevance.
03
Natural ventilation is prioritized through strategic unit placement and design.
04
Outdoor spaces are incorporated into every residential unit, promoting connectivity with nature.
05
Inclined lifts facilitate accessibility while maintaining seamless design aesthetics.

## Overview

Located in Cebu City, Philippines, the condominium development is designed to harmonize with the region's natural and cultural landscape, drawing inspiration from the area's cascading contours, particularly the Banawa Rizal Terraces. This project aims to redefine urban living by integrating contemporary architectural practices with sustainable principles that respect and enhance the surrounding environment.

## Design Philosophy and Material Selection

The design philosophy emphasizes a strong connection to the site’s topography, resulting in a tiered structure that creates outdoor communal areas while improving the aesthetic appeal. The choice of materials reflects both sustainability and cultural relevance, incorporating concrete for structural integrity, expansive glass for maximizing natural light, locally sourced natural stone to honor heritage, and wood for warmth in decorative elements. These materials work together to foster a balance between modern aesthetics and environmental stewardship.

### Spatial Organization and Circulation

With 19 stories and 146 residential units, the layout is designed to prioritize natural light and airflow, reducing reliance on artificial climate control. Each unit features its own private terrace, enhancing the indoor-outdoor living experience, while strategically placed common areas foster community engagement among residents. Innovative circulation methods, including inclined lifts and thoughtfully positioned access points, facilitate ease of movement throughout the building while maintaining privacy.

The design's integration with green landscaping promotes biodiversity and ecological balance, enhancing both the aesthetic and environmental quality of urban living. Advanced systems for ventilation and rainwater harvesting further exemplify the commitment to sustainability within this architectural development.

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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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