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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

Project in-detail

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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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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