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Charred Wooden Shingles and Natural Light Define This Sustainable Urban Residential Conversion

Author:
Weichen Wang
Charred Wooden Shingles and Natural Light Define This Sustainable Urban Residential Conversion

Project in-detail

Utilizing charred wooden shingles and expansive glazing, the design transforms existing structures into a flexible residential community that prioritizes sustainability and natural light.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and aesthetic appeal.
02
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels to improve structural efficiency and sustainability.
03
Features a bent A-frame design, maximizing interior space while maintaining a distinctive profile.
04
Design includes floor-to-ceiling glazing to optimize natural light and energy performance.
05
Integrates flexible layouts that adapt to diverse resident needs and foster community interaction.

### Project Overview
Located in Alewife, Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Alewife Apartment Conversion project seeks to repurpose existing housing structures with a focus on minimizing environmental impact. This initiative addresses the complexities of urban living by providing a well-considered arrangement of living spaces designed to encourage community interaction while accommodating diverse residential needs.

### Spatial Strategy
The interior layout is designed for flexibility, prioritizing open-plan configurations that facilitate interaction among residents while allowing for private areas when needed. Movable partitions further enhance adaptability, accommodating various uses over time. Additionally, the incorporation of common areas is thoughtfully executed to promote social engagement while ensuring privacy for individual units. Large windows and strategically placed openings enhance natural ventilation and daylight access, reducing dependency on artificial heating and cooling systems.

### Materiality and Performance
Material selection plays a critical role in reinforcing the project's sustainability ethos. Sustainable wood panels are employed for interior finishes, contributing warmth and an organic aesthetic. Brick masonry not only provides structural integrity but also maintains historical context. Concrete is utilized for flooring and structural components, offering durability and sound insulation. Extensive glazing promotes energy efficiency by maximizing natural light, while the overall materiality enhances thermodynamic performance, ensuring energy-efficient living spaces that align with contemporary environmental standards.

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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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