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Charred Wooden Shingles and Natural Light Enhance Harmonious Living Spaces in Maryland

Charred Wooden Shingles and Natural Light Enhance Harmonious Living Spaces in Maryland
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Crafted with charred wooden shingles and strategically placed glass elements, the design fosters an engaging dialogue between light and shadow while providing a functional living environment rooted in sustainability.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and weather resistance.
02
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels for structural integrity and sustainability.
03
Features a bent A-frame design that maximizes interior space and natural light.
04
Includes a central courtyard to foster outdoor connectivity and community interaction.
05
Employs strategic window placement to create dynamic shadow patterns throughout the day.

## Overview
Umbral Haven is situated in Maryland, USA, and is designed to explore the relationship between light and shadow within a harmonious living environment. The project comprises two interconnected buildings, each symbolizing an individual within a couple, and is centered around a courtyard that serves as a functional and symbolic threshold between private and public spaces. This layout reflects the intent of fostering coexistence and balance in residential living.

### Spatial Strategy
The organization of Umbral Haven distinctly separates private and public sectors to enhance functionality and user experience. The private area includes a bedroom, a living room with strategically placed windows for natural light, a tranquil bathroom, and a recreational room designed for well-being. In contrast, the public sector features a dining area that encourages social interaction and a living area designed for entertainment, emphasizing visual connectivity to the outdoors. These carefully delineated spaces promote a sense of intimacy while maintaining a fluid interaction with the surrounding environment.

### Material Selection
The materiality of Umbral Haven plays a crucial role in achieving the design's thematic goals. Stone provides durability and grounding characteristics, while wood adds warmth and texture to interior spaces. Glass is employed for the central courtyard and windows to optimize natural light and maintain visual engagement with the landscape. Concrete is utilized in the private sectors to offer solidity, complementing the overall design framework. These materials collectively enhance the interplay of light and shadow, enriching the spatial experience by engaging with the site's natural setting.

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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
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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025

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

Open architecture competitions

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    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge

AIA (American Institute of Architects) invites you to design affordable housing in Denver

Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 2025

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Prize Monetary award
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Advance registration deadline 18 September 2025
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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Early bird registration deadline 15 October 2025
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Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 October 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025
The Last 
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Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

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