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Charred Wooden Shingles and Natural Light Create a Healing Community Hub for Patients

Authors:
Christopher Gallegos, Melanie Silver, Melanie Silver
Charred Wooden Shingles and Natural Light Create a Healing Community Hub for Patients

Project in-detail

Emphasizing charred wooden shingles and expansive glass elements, the design fosters a connection to nature while providing a supportive environment for lung cancer patients and their families.
5 key facts about this project
01
Emphasizes a bent A-frame design that optimizes natural light and ventilation.
02
Integrates charred wooden shingles to improve durability and aesthetics.
03
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels for sustainability and structural performance.
04
Features dedicated communal dining areas designed to foster social connections.
05
Includes therapeutic gardens specifically designed to support patient well-being.

### Project Overview
The Oxygen Home is located in Krakow, Poland, and serves as a multifunctional community hub catering specifically to lung cancer patients and their families. Its design intent is to provide a holistic environment that supports physical, emotional, and social well-being, allowing for a nurturing space that promotes recovery and community interaction.

### Healing through Nature and Community
The architectural design prioritizes connection to nature and social engagement. Green spaces, including gardens, walking paths, and playgrounds, create opportunities for outdoor activities and personal reflection, fostering a therapeutic atmosphere. Communal areas, such as shared dining spaces and therapy rooms, encourage interaction among patients and families, essential for psychological healing. Flexible spatial configurations accommodate diverse needs, from group therapy to private contemplation, allowing users to adapt the space according to their preferences.

### Material Selection and Sustainability
The choice of materials reinforces the project’s focus on healing and environmental integration. Natural stone connects the building to its local context, while extensive use of glass maximizes natural light, enhancing the uplifting environment. Wood accents contribute to acoustic comfort and aesthetic warmth. Sustainable features, such as a green roof and rain gardens, demonstrate a commitment to ecological responsibility by improving thermal performance and supporting local biodiversity. Energy-efficient systems, including solar panels, further emphasize sustainability throughout the design while maintaining user comfort.

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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
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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MICROHOME
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