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Charred Wooden Shingles and Thermal Wood Create a Resilient Health-Focused Community Space

Author:
Débora Silva
Charred Wooden Shingles and Thermal Wood Create a Resilient Health-Focused Community Space
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Crafted from charred wooden shingles and thermal wood, the design integrates biophilic elements into a health-focused community space that promotes wellness and social interaction in an urban setting.
5 key facts about this project
01
Crafted with charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and aesthetic appeal.
02
Features an innovative bent A-frame design that maximizes natural light penetration.
03
Utilizes cross-laminated timber panels for structural efficiency and environmental performance.
04
Incorporates extensive green roofs to improve biodiversity and provide therapeutic spaces.
05
Designed with flexible communal areas to foster social interactions among users.

## Overview
The Krakow Oxigen House is situated in Krakow, Poland, addressing the urgent issue of urban air pollution while contributing to the city's architectural landscape. The design focuses on creating a supportive environment for cancer patients and their families, facilitating social interactions and access to healthcare resources. This response to public health challenges integrates contemporary design with elements that promote wellness and a connection to nature.

## Architectural Composition
### Overall Form
The structure consists of two primary geometric volumes, strategically oriented to create engaging spatial relationships and visual dynamics. These forms are designed to provide a sense of comfort while maintaining distinct identities. A third volume, characterized by asymmetrical, sinuous lines, adds complexity, reflecting organic growth patterns found in nature. This design element enhances the connection between the built environment and its natural surroundings.

### Materiality
A carefully selected palette of materials enhances the project's concept of healing while ensuring aesthetic harmony:
- The use of **white finishes** conveys tranquility and integrates well with the urban context, featuring a modern simplicity.
- **Thermally modified wood** improves thermal insulation and introduces an organic element, particularly in communal areas designed for interaction.
- Extensive **glass surfaces** facilitate a strong connection between interior and exterior spaces, allowing natural light to penetrate the building and fostering openness.

### Unique Features
1. **Natural Integration**: The incorporation of green roofs and gardens enhances biodiversity and provides environments for contemplation and relaxation, actively supporting mental well-being.
2. **Spatial Dynamics**: An open layout promotes community engagement, essential for the emotional health of users. Shared areas are designed to encourage social interaction.
3. **Adaptive Use of Space**: The arrangement includes multifunctional spaces, such as consultation rooms, community areas, and private zones, allowing flexibility to cater to diverse activities and user needs.

The ground floor features a defined entrance leading to communal areas and consultation rooms, ensuring accessibility to support services. The first floor includes serene spaces for reflection and group activities alongside a green terrace, integrating nature with social functions. The design addresses both the immediate health needs of the community and the broader environmental context, emphasizing sustainable architectural solutions.

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The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

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Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025

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