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A Courtyard-Centered Residence Supporting Elderly Living and Social Connection

Authors:
Nadav Gefen- Furestain, Neta Gefen-grinbaum
A Courtyard-Centered Residence Supporting Elderly Living and Social Connection
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This project presents an Elderly Home in Portugal designed to support comfort, accessibility, and social connection. The layout reflects contemporary elder care principles, balancing opportunities for community engagement with spaces that respect personal privacy.
5 key facts about this project
01
Designed specifically for elderly residents' needs.
02
Central courtyard promotes social interaction and personal reflection.
03
Private rooms feature direct access to outdoor balconies.
04
Quiet zones integrated for calm without isolation.
05
Terracotta tiles reflect local architectural character and identity.

This residential project is designed to accommodate elderly residents by balancing communal engagement with opportunities for quiet retreat. Organized around a central courtyard, the layout supports both social interaction and personal reflection, offering accessible spaces that promote comfort, independence, and well-being.

Spatial Configuration and Accessibility
Open circulation paths and fluid spatial transitions allow residents with diverse mobility needs to move through the facility with ease. Private rooms are arranged with direct access to balconies facing the courtyard, providing individual outdoor space while maintaining a connection to shared areas. Quiet zones are integrated throughout, offering calm spaces for rest without isolating residents from the community. Communal areas—including a flexible gathering hall and dining room—are designed to host a variety of events and daily activities.

Material Use and Environmental Qualities
Terracotta tiles reflect local architectural character, while large glass surfaces enhance natural light and offer continuous views to gardens and green spaces. These outdoor areas are essential to the project’s therapeutic aims, supporting physical activity and mental wellness.

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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

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Eligibility Open to all
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