Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Charred Wood Shingles and Concrete Towers Shaping Coastal Reflection Spaces

Authors:
Eleonora Masia, Sofia Macchia
Charred Wood Shingles and Concrete Towers Shaping Coastal Reflection Spaces

Project in-detail

Charred wood shingles envelop concrete towers, creating a dialogue with the coastal landscape that facilitates communal gathering and individual reflection.
5 key facts about this project
01
Charred wooden shingles are utilized for their aesthetic appeal and weather resistance.
02
Concrete towers provide structural stability while creating visual height.
03
Cross-laminated timber panels enhance the building's sustainability and thermal performance.
04
The bent A-frame design allows for expansive interior spaces with natural light.
05
Water features are integrated to enhance the connection between architecture and landscape.

**Overview**

"Khora - The Space Lying Between Two Limits" is located in the mountainous region of Bellaria Igea Marina, Italy. The project seeks to establish a conceptual dialogue between the natural environment and human experience, utilizing its coastal context to explore themes of connectivity and existential duality. By engaging with natural elements such as wind and water, the design reflects a nuanced relationship between architecture and its surroundings.

**Materiality and Symbolic Representation**

The construction employs concrete, steel, glass, wood, and metal panels, each chosen for both structural performance and symbolic significance. Concrete serves as the primary structural element, providing durability against coastal forces, while steel facilitates open interior spaces through its strength and flexibility. Glass elements enhance the connection between interior spaces and the external landscape, allowing for natural light and views, whereas wood provides a warm counterbalance to heavier materials. Metal panels contribute to the dynamic interplay of light and shadow, reinforcing the project's thematic explorations.

**Spatial Dynamics and User Experience**

The architectural layout features a series of tall, monolithic forms that function as visual markers and spiritual beacons within the landscape. The design integrates expansive open areas for communal gatherings alongside intimate spaces for personal contemplation, fostering a balance between connectivity and solitude. The gradation of elevated platforms and sunken gathering spaces mirrors the natural topography, allowing for varied experiences of movement and interaction. Water features are incorporated to symbolize transition and reflection, enhancing the sensory engagement of the space. Through these spatial strategies, the project aims to create a rich tapestry of experiences that invite reflection on existence within the natural world.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

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

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy