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Charred Wood Shingles and Living Walls Frame a Sustainable Workspace

Author:
Geunho Min
Charred Wood Shingles and Living Walls Frame a Sustainable Workspace
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Charred wooden shingles and expansive living walls create a seamless integration of nature and workspace, resulting in a sustainable office environment that fosters collaboration and well-being.
5 key facts about this project
01
Charred wooden shingles provide a unique aesthetic and enhance fire resistance.
02
Cross-laminated timber panels offer structural stability and reduce construction waste.
03
A bent A-frame design maximizes natural light and improves thermal performance.
04
Integrated living walls contribute to biodiversity and air quality within the workspace.
05
Void spaces foster employee interaction and promote collaborative working environments.

The Namsan Office is an architectural project designed to create a sustainable workspace within a harmonious relationship with the surrounding landscape. This project emphasizes the interaction between nature and the built environment, reflecting contemporary architectural practices that prioritize ecological considerations. It serves as an office space, accommodating various functions needed for modern work while promoting community interaction.

The architectural design integrates both communal and individual workspaces through a series of carefully articulated voids that foster connectivity among occupants. These voids are strategically positioned to enhance natural light penetration and provide visual access to the external environment. The overall layout produces a dynamic spatial organization that supports various collaboration opportunities while also allowing for individual focus.

Architectural Integration of Nature
A distinctive aspect of the Namsan Office is its focus on voids and vegetation, which plays a critical role in the project’s identity. These voids are not merely functional; they act as social hubs, offering shared spaces for employees to converge. The incorporation of greenery throughout the building, including living walls and rooftop gardens, reinforces the commitment to sustainability and enhances the mental well-being of its users.

The façade features extensive glazing that facilitates a seamless transition between interior and exterior. This design approach mitigates the boundary between built form and nature, allowing occupants to engage with the outside environment, which is essential in a workplace setting. The use of natural materials, such as wood, complements the contemporary feel of the concrete and glass, yielding a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Sustainable Architectural Practices
The Namsan Office employs several sustainable building practices, including passive cooling and energy-efficient systems. By utilizing rainwater harvesting and solar energy solutions, the project minimizes its ecological footprint while optimizing operational performance. The incorporation of sustainable facade panels enhances thermal efficiency and contributes to the building's overall sustainability goals.

Architectural designs in this project prioritize user comfort through natural ventilation and daylighting strategies. The organization of spaces complements these goals, ensuring that work areas benefit from optimal light conditions while reducing reliance on artificial lighting.

For additional insights into the Namsan Office, readers are encouraged to explore the architectural plans, sections, and designs that elaborate on the project's features and innovative approaches. Examining these elements will provide a comprehensive understanding of how the design concept is realized in practice.

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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.

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Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

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