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Charred Wooden Shingles and Thermal Shielding in Modular Residential Spaces

Charred Wooden Shingles and Thermal Shielding in Modular Residential Spaces
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Utilizing charred wooden shingles and smart thermal shielding, this modular residential design adapts seamlessly to the desert landscape while promoting sustainable living.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes screw piles for minimal soil disruption and adaptability to variable terrain.
02
Incorporates thermal shielding for improved energy efficiency in extreme climates.
03
Features modular construction allowing for rapid assembly in under a week.
04
Employs charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and aesthetic appeal.
05
Integrates smart thermal regulating walls to maintain optimal indoor conditions.

### Overview
Located in the United Arab Emirates, the design concept draws inspiration from the region's cultural heritage, particularly the nomadic Khaimah tents. It seeks to integrate this traditional influence with modern architectural methods to establish a framework for sustainable living. The project emphasizes adaptability and modularity, allowing for responsive design while engaging with the environmental context.

### Construction Methodology and Materiality
The foundation employs screw piles, facilitating an adaptable structure suitable for varied terrains, including dunes and marshlands. This method minimizes environmental disruption and maintains soil integrity. The concept embraces modular construction principles, allowing for the prefabrication of components such as walls, roofs, and floors, which can be efficiently assembled and disassembled. This approach significantly decreases construction timelines.

Incorporating a thermal shield enhances energy efficiency, while smart thermal regulating walls optimize indoor climate control. Each unit is capable of generating more energy than it consumes, utilizing renewable sources that align with sustainability goals. Notably, the design features oversized glass walls that not only enhance aesthetic appeal but also foster a connection with the surrounding landscape, contributing to user comfort.

### Sustainable Design and Community Integration
The architectural design targets a reduced carbon footprint, contributing to a model of energy independence that anticipates future ecological challenges. Emphasizing flexibility, the housing units can be relocated or modified to adapt to changing needs or environmental conditions. The overarching vision includes the potential for creating eco-villages and smart cities, promoting communal living while harmonizing sustainable practices within the urban fabric. This comprehensive approach aims to address broader urbanization issues through innovative and responsible design techniques that respect the natural landscape.

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competition now

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
The Architect’s 
Stair
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Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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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  • Project competitions first
    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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MICROHOME

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

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Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
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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

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Final registration deadline 30 October 2025
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Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

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