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Charred Wooden Shingles and Transparent Spaces Reshaping Community Engagement in a Multifunctional Hub

Author:
Wentao Guo
Charred Wooden Shingles and Transparent Spaces Reshaping Community Engagement in a Multifunctional Hub

Project in-detail

Charred wooden shingles and expansive glass facades create a harmonious blend of transparency and materiality, designed to foster community interaction within a multifunctional urban incubator.
5 key facts about this project
01
Charred wooden shingles integrated into the facade enhance both aesthetics and fire resistance.
02
Cross-laminated timber panels are utilized for structural components, promoting sustainability.
03
The design incorporates terraced landscaping to blend the building with the surrounding environment.
04
Large glass elements ensure visual connectivity between interior and exterior spaces.
05
Dedicated workshop zones are strategically placed to facilitate collaborative creativity.

### Overview

The project "Yamanashi Now" is located in Yamanashi, Japan, where it aims to repurpose a historical site originally serving as a Broadcasting and Press Center into a multi-functional urban facility. The design reflects the cultural heritage of Yamanashi while addressing the current needs for social interaction, education, and creative production. Its intent is to create a vibrant gathering space that fosters community engagement and promotes collaborative efforts.

### Spatial Strategy

The design adopts a systems-thinking approach, facilitating connectivity between various urban elements through innovative spatial arrangements. The center incorporates a hybrid media framework that combines public and private areas tailored to support diverse functions such as learning and creativity. A pathway system is implemented within the structure to guide users while encouraging spontaneous interactions, thereby enhancing collaboration among visitors. Visible circulation elements, including open staircases, promote transparency between different functional zones, allowing users to engage fluidly with various spaces.

The layout's decentralization creates distinct areas that cater to specific activities while ensuring smooth transitions between zones. This offers users both private retreats and collaborative hubs, effectively balancing individual focus with forums for discussion and interaction.

### Materiality and Sustainability

Material selection plays a crucial role in bridging the contemporary design with Yamanashi's historical vernacular. Key materials employed include concrete for structural durability, glass to promote transparency and visual connections, steel for dynamic architectural expressions, and wood to introduce warmth and a natural aesthetic to interior spaces.

The project incorporates landscape features such as terraced gardens and communal rooftops, enhancing ecological sustainability and providing recreational areas. By integrating these outdoor elements with the built environment, the design fosters a sense of community while recognizing the importance of the ecological footprint. The interplay of materials and spaces aligns with the objective of creating an adaptable environment responsive to the community's evolving needs.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
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MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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Kinderspace
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