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Charred Wooden Shingles and Greenery Integrate to Connect Community Spaces

Authors:
Vanesa Lara Fernandez, Ignacio Juan Gomez Ramirez, Antonio Berruezo Davila
Charred Wooden Shingles and Greenery Integrate to Connect Community Spaces

Project in-detail

Crafted with charred wooden shingles and abundant greenery, the design revitalizes urban connectivity while serving as a multifunctional community hub.
5 key facts about this project
01
Charred wooden shingles enhance weather resistance and provide distinct aesthetics.
02
Cross-laminated timber panels improve structural efficiency while supporting sustainability.
03
The bent A-frame design optimizes natural light and promotes ventilation throughout the space.
04
Community spaces are adaptable, allowing for dynamic use and user engagement.
05
Integration of green features improves air quality and fosters a biophilic environment.

## Overview
Located in Cēsis, Latvia, the Connecting Cēsis project aims to enhance urban connectivity and strengthen social relationships within the city. By integrating both historical and contemporary elements, the design seeks to revitalize underutilized spaces and promote a sense of community. The project is strategically positioned to link the historic town center with surrounding areas, creating a cohesive urban fabric.

### Spatial Organization
The architectural layout features a series of interrelated spaces designed to accommodate diverse functions such as public gatherings, exhibitions, and communal activities. Key components of the design include:

- **Public Areas**: Facilitating social interaction through open spaces tailored for community events.
- **Adaptive Factory Spaces**: Retaining aspects of the existing factory structure while introducing modern facilities to support creative industries.
- **Community Zones**: Ensuring different societal sectors can converge, thereby fostering collaboration and inclusivity.

### Material Selection and Sustainability
The project employs a thoughtfully selected palette of materials, aligning with the local environment and principles of sustainability. Notable materials include:

- **Wood**: Used extensively for interior finishes, enhancing thermal performance and reflecting the region's forestry.
- **Vinyl**: Applied as a versatile finish for flooring and surfaces, contributing to aesthetic consistency.
- **Glass**: Incorporated into the façades to promote transparency and interaction with the outdoors.
- **Concrete**: Provides structural integrity while embodying an industrial aesthetic.

Through these elements, the design reflects a commitment to ecological responsibility and local context, ensuring the project meets both current needs and future adaptability.

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

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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
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
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MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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