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Charred Wooden Shingles and Expansive Glass Facades in a Community-Centric Retreat

Author:
Farnoosh Memari
Charred Wooden Shingles and Expansive Glass Facades in a Community-Centric Retreat

Project in-detail

Defined by charred wooden shingles and expansive glass facades, the design offers a serene environment that merges communal gathering spaces with therapeutic areas, encouraging interaction and reflection in a natural setting.
5 key facts about this project
01
Defined by charred wooden shingles, the structure integrates seamlessly with the landscape.
02
A bent A-frame design enhances structural durability while optimizing interior space.
03
Cross-laminated timber panels provide both aesthetic appeal and sustainability.
04
Dedicated gardening areas encourage hands-on interaction with nature for visitors.
05
The layout features distinct zones for public, private, social, and therapeutic activities.

### Overview
Located in Lavasson, near Tehran, Iran, the design seeks to create a multi-functional sanctuary that emphasizes community connections, reflection, and creativity. The architectural intent is to evoke a sense of nostalgia and warmth associated with childhood homes, merging these emotional aspects with contemporary design. The surrounding natural landscape plays a crucial role in offering tranquility and enhancing the user experience.

### Spatial Organization and User Engagement
The layout of "Deja Vu" is strategically organized across two levels to facilitate interaction and support diverse activities. The first floor includes communal spaces such as a reception area, gathering and therapy rooms, a library, and a chapel, designed to encourage social engagement. The second floor features a terrace dedicated to creative pursuits, including art and horticulture, enhancing the relationship between users and their environment. Active gardening areas promote hands-on engagement, while designated zones cater to public, private, social, and therapeutic functions.

### Materiality and Environmental Integration
The choice of materials reflects both sustainability and aesthetic coherence. Wood is utilized for external cladding and internal finishes, fostering an inviting atmosphere. Concrete ensures structural integrity, while expansive glass windows provide natural light and scenic views, bridging the interior with the exterior. Metal components subtly enhance modernity. In addition to human comfort, the design incorporates green spaces, including a lotus garden, that support biodiversity. The overall orientation and material selection bolster sustainability efforts, inviting users to interact with and nurture their surroundings.

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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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100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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