Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

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

Project in-detail

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
Utilizes charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and fire resistance.
02
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels to provide structural stability while minimizing environmental impact.
03
Features a bent A-frame design that optimizes interior space utilization and natural light access.
04
Includes a central courtyard designed for social interaction and gardening activities.
05
Emphasizes accessibility in all communal and private areas to support diverse mobility needs.

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.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

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

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy