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Charred Wood Accents and Glass Facades Enhance Community Hub Along Amsterdam Waterfront

Author:
Lujaina Abdelmohsen
Charred Wood Accents and Glass Facades Enhance Community Hub Along Amsterdam Waterfront

Project in-detail

Incorporating charred wood details and expansive glass surfaces, the redevelopment along Amsterdam's waterfront transforms a historical food shed into a vibrant hub for community engagement and cultural events.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes charred wooden shingles to enhance durability and fire resistance.
02
Features cross-laminated timber panels for improved structural efficiency and aesthetic appeal.
03
Incorporates a bent A-frame design to optimize interior space and visual connectivity.
04
Integrates green roofs for water management and habitat creation.
05
Establishes a direct connection with the waterfront through an accessible promenade.

### Project Overview
Rhacotis 31° represents a significant redevelopment of an existing food shed along the western Amsterdam waterfront. This project aims to preserve the historical elements of the site while introducing contemporary design to create a multifunctional space that serves the local community and enhances engagement. The name "Rhacotis" draws from the historical maritime trade routes, reflecting the site's rich heritage.

### Architectural Language and Material Palette
The design employs a distinctive architectural language that merges traditional industrial forms with modern aesthetics. Features such as gabled roofs and repetitive silhouettes pay homage to classic warehouse structures, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. A carefully curated material palette enhances this character, including exposed brick to connect with the site’s industrial past, extensive glass elements that maximize natural light and transparency, steel beams that provide structural integrity and flexibility, and concrete for durability in pathways and foundational elements.

### Spatial Dynamics and Community Function
The interior layout is configured to accommodate a variety of community activities, including markets, exhibitions, and gatherings. Interconnected zones facilitate movement and promote social interaction, creating an inviting atmosphere. The design also integrates sustainable practices, emphasizing energy efficiency through passive strategies, green roofs, and rainwater harvesting systems. The development caters to diverse functions, such as exhibition spaces for art and cultural events, adaptable market areas for local vendors, community gathering spots, and retail and culinary offerings to further engage visitors and residents alike.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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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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100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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