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Charred Wooden Shingles and Biophilic Design Integrate with Natural Landscape for Community Wellness Hub

Author:
Jean-François Madec
Charred Wooden Shingles and Biophilic Design Integrate with Natural Landscape for Community Wellness Hub

Project in-detail

Incorporating charred wooden shingles and expansive glass openings, the design fosters a seamless connection with the landscape, promoting community interaction and wellness within a multifunctional hub.
5 key facts about this project
01
Charred wooden shingles enhance durability while providing a unique visual texture.
02
Cross-laminated timber panels contribute to a lightweight yet strong structural system.
03
The bent A-frame design allows for optimal daylighting and expansive views.
04
Integrated green roofs promote biodiversity and improve environmental performance.
05
Pathways woven through the landscape facilitate natural circulation and community interaction.

## Project Overview

Located within a clearing surrounded by dense forestry, this architectural endeavor emphasizes a thoughtful integration of built and natural environments. The design intent focuses on establishing an unobtrusive relationship with its context, fostering a harmonious coexistence between architecture and the landscape. By engaging with the natural surroundings, the project enhances user experience through thoughtfully crafted spaces that facilitate interaction and connection with nature.

### Spatial Configuration

The layout consists of multiple interconnected buildings, organized into distinct public and private zones. This arrangement leverages the natural contours of the site, with pathways and open spaces that encourage exploration. Notable features include a **Public Square**, designed as a central gathering area to facilitate social interaction and community engagement. Adjacent to this, **Relaxation Rooms** incorporate large windows that blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor environments, promoting tranquility and a connection to the natural setting. The restaurant and café area, with views of the surrounding landscape, serves as a social hub, prioritizing aesthetic pleasure alongside functionality.

### Materiality

The project employs a carefully curated material palette that reinforces its architectural language and sustainability principles. **Reinforced concrete** offers durability while providing a textured visual character, while extensive **glazing** enhances natural light penetration, creating bright interiors. **Timber** elements introduce warmth, contrasting effectively with concrete surfaces. The design also features **grass tiling and green spaces** that enhance biodiversity and integrate seamlessly with the landscape. Notably, the materials selected reflect sustainability efforts, ensuring a reduced ecological footprint while adapting to the local climate.

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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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