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Charred Wood Screens and Expansive Glass in a Family-Centric Residence

Charred Wood Screens and Expansive Glass in a Family-Centric Residence

Project in-detail

With charred wood screens providing both shade and privacy, this residence seamlessly integrates natural materials and expansive glass elements to create a family-oriented living environment that promotes connection with outdoor spaces.
5 key facts about this project
01
Charred wooden shingles are used for enhanced durability and weather resistance.
02
Cross-laminated timber panels provide structural stability while minimizing waste.
03
The design incorporates large glass openings for natural light and outdoor views.
04
A bent A-frame structure optimizes space and energy efficiency.
05
Landscaping features native plants to support local biodiversity and water conservation.

### Project Overview

Located within a 297 m² footprint, the residential design aims to meet the diverse needs of a family while fostering an environment conducive to both social interaction and private relaxation. Central to the layout is a spacious living area that serves as the main gathering point, integrating natural light and outdoor spaces to enhance the overall living experience. The configuration of the home promotes transparency and flow between indoor and outdoor environments, emphasizing a contemporary lifestyle.

### Spatial Organization

The layout is strategically divided across two levels, ensuring a balance between communal and private areas. The ground floor encompasses 137 m², featuring a guest bedroom, dedicated living room, and a central family area adjacent to an outdoor seating area and pool. Service areas, including a kitchen pantry and utility rooms, are positioned for convenience. The first floor, comprising 160 m², contains four master bedrooms, each with en-suite facilities, alongside a family living area that fosters connection.

### Material Selection and Sustainability

The project employs a diverse palette of materials that contribute to both aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency. Polished porcelain floors offer durability, while natural wood finishes add warmth to the interiors. Expansive glass panels facilitate light entry and strengthen the indoor-outdoor relationship, framed by aluminum structures that provide contemporary aesthetics and resilience. Sustainable elements include high-efficiency windows, a 14 kW solar panel system, and strategically designed landscaping with native plants to enhance energy efficiency and ecological impact. Advanced shading techniques have been incorporated to mitigate solar gain and promote natural ventilation, ensuring a comfortable living environment throughout the year.

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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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