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Charred Wooden Shingles and Green Roofs Defining Sustainable Urban Living

Authors:
Mohammad Hadi Najafi Nejad, Atefeh Dorostkar, Fatemeh Sherafati, Arefeh Goodarzi, Nahid Ghahremani
Charred Wooden Shingles and Green Roofs Defining Sustainable Urban Living

Project in-detail

Crafted with charred wooden shingles and high-performance glass, this urban building integrates flexible interiors and green roofs to enhance community interaction and promote sustainable living.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and fire resistance.
02
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels to promote rapid assembly and structural efficiency.
03
Features a distinctive bent A-frame design, optimizing natural light throughout the interior spaces.
04
Utilizes green roofs to promote biodiversity and support urban wildlife habitats.
05
Designed with flexible interiors, allowing spaces to adapt to various community functions and gatherings.

### Overview
"The Spiral of Life" is situated in an arid region reflective of the Middle Eastern context, emphasizing a balanced approach to traditional architectural concepts and modern solutions. The intent behind this design is to create a residence that not only respects historical cultural elements but also promotes environmental sensitivity, social interaction, and cultural relevance.

### Spatial Organization and Cultural Engagement
The project's spatial strategy is defined by a spiral layout, facilitating a fluid connection between various living areas while accommodating privacy. Public, semi-private, and private spaces are distinctly arranged to support traditional family dynamics and communal living practices, including a **Majlis** for social gatherings and a **Roof Garden**, enhancing communal connectivity. Architectural inspiration is drawn from ancient Persian techniques, incorporating elements such as shaded archways and garden spaces that resonate with Islamic traditions, thereby reinforcing community ties.

### Sustainable Materiality and Environmental Response
The design prioritizes sustainability through the use of local materials, such as compact soil, which provides excellent thermal properties and reduces ecological impact. Photovoltaic cells are integrated within the structure to harness solar energy, addressing the building's energy demands. Exterior and interior finishes utilize wood and stone to create aesthetically pleasing environments while promoting natural cooling through the strategically designed roof garden. This feature not only connects residents with nature but also plays a critical role in passive cooling strategies, effectively responding to the regional climate challenges.

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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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