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Charred Wooden Shingles and Natural Stone Embrace in Sustainable Residential Design

Author:
Antoniya Kostadinov
Charred Wooden Shingles and Natural Stone Embrace in Sustainable Residential Design

Project in-detail

Incorporating charred wooden shingles and local stone, the residence achieves a seamless blend with its natural surroundings while offering versatile living spaces designed for communal engagement and private retreats.
5 key facts about this project
01
Designed with a central courtyard that enhances social interaction while providing privacy.
02
Utilizes charred wooden shingles for weather resistance and an aesthetically rich texture.
03
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels to enhance structural efficiency and sustainability.
04
Features adaptable partition walls that allow for flexible use of spaces.
05
The bent A-frame design maximizes natural light and minimizes energy consumption.

### Project Overview
Situated in a region characterized by expansive fields and open landscapes, the residential design emphasizes the connection between built form and the natural environment. The intent is to create a living space that balances communal interactions with private retreats, fostering a unique lifestyle experience. The layout features two distinct levels: the upper level caters to shared living environments, while the lower level contains functional service areas, ensuring a clear delineation between public and private zones.

### Spatial Distribution
The architectural layout facilitates a varied progression of spaces, allowing for diverse interactions. The ground floor is dedicated to communal areas such as a dining kitchen that extends into a central courtyard, promoting social gatherings and enhancing indoor-outdoor connectivity through expansive openings. Private spaces, including guest rooms with individual terraces, provide solitude while remaining visually tied to shared areas. The underground level accommodates essential service functions, maintaining the serenity of the primary living spaces.

### Material Selection
The material palette reflects local building traditions while remaining attuned to contemporary design principles. Local stone serves as the primary structural element, integrating durability with environmental responsiveness. Extensive use of wood enhances warmth in both fixtures and interiors, allowing flexibility in spatial divisions. Concrete elements provide structural stability and contribute to climate control, essential in the region's warm summers. Glass is strategically employed to maximize natural light and visual links to the outdoors, particularly within private areas such as bathrooms, where scenic views enhance user experience.

### Noteworthy Aspects
The design consciously aligns with the surrounding landscape, optimizing views and light access. Sustainable strategies, including passive ventilation and the selection of fire-retardant materials, reflect a commitment to environmental responsibility. Culturally sensitive design elements honor local architectural heritage while introducing modern aesthetics, creating a seamless blend of functional and traditional aspects. The adaptive floor plan allows for versatile usage, enhancing the overall user experience by accommodating various lifestyle needs.

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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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