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Charred Wooden Shingles and Passive Solar Design in a Multifunctional Community Space

Author:
Stephanie Fan
Charred Wooden Shingles and Passive Solar Design in a Multifunctional Community Space

Project in-detail

Employing charred wooden shingles and expansive glass façades, the design optimizes passive solar gain while facilitating community interaction through multifunctional spaces.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and weather resistance.
02
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels to reduce structural weight and improve sustainability.
03
Features a bent A-frame design that maximizes interior volume and visual connectivity.
04
Includes extensive glass façades that facilitate panoramic views and natural light penetration.
05
Designed with passive solar strategies to optimize energy efficiency throughout the year.
The project represents a thoughtful integration of architecture and landscape, emphasizing a harmonious relationship between the built environment and its natural surroundings. It serves multiple functions, including public engagement, community interaction, and private relaxation. The architectural design effectively creates a cohesive environment that fosters both socialization and privacy.

The design incorporates large glass façades that facilitate visual connectivity between interior spaces and the external landscape. This approach enhances natural lighting and encourages a fluid connection to the outdoors. The strategic placement of open staircases and terraces allows for user interaction with the environment, promoting movement and exploration throughout the space.

One of the defining features of the project is its materiality. The use of concrete provides structural stability, while wood, likely plywood, adds warmth to the interiors. The extensive use of glass panels allows for unobstructed views, further merging the interior with the exterior. Steel is employed in the structural framework, offering durability and clear spatial organization. This specific choice of materials is not only aesthetically pleasing but also environmentally responsive, aligning with sustainable design practices.

The project distinguishes itself through innovative zoning strategies that create distinct functional areas. Public zones include a welcoming entrance and a café, designed to foster community interaction. Semi-private spaces such as offices and lounges transition users toward more secluded areas, such as saunas and storage rooms, ensuring privacy without sacrificing connectivity to the building's core.

Unique design approaches manifest in the building’s orientation and integration with the landscape. The southern façade is designed to optimize passive solar gain while providing shade to maintain comfortable interior temperatures. Additionally, outdoor courtyards serve as focal points that encourage interaction among users, creating social hubs within the architectural framework. Such design elements are instrumental in enhancing the overall user experience, ensuring versatility within the environment.

Exploring the architectural plans, sections, and overall architectural designs of this project will provide deeper insights into its innovative design ideas. For a comprehensive understanding of the project’s layout and concepts, the reader is encouraged to explore the architectural presentation for more details.
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100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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100,000€ Prize / 2025

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

Competition organisers

The 10th edition of the MICROHOME architecture competition invites architects and designers from around the world to explore the possibilities of compact, sustainable living. Hosted by Buildner in collaboration with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this special edition challenges participants to design an off-grid, modular microhome for a young professional couple, with a maximum floor area of 25 m². Designs should prioritize innovation, efficiency, and real-world feasibility. 

A total prize fund of 100,000 € will be awarded, including three main prizes, the Kingspan Award, and the Hapi Homes Award, which will grant 15,000 € and lead to the construction of the selected design. The final registration deadline is September 25, 2025, and winners will be announced on Decebmer 9, 2025. For full competition details and submission guidelines, visit microhome.info.

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
Early bird registration deadline 22 May 2025
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