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Charred Wooden Shingles and Vast Natural Light in a Community-Oriented Senior Residence

Author:
Gautam Bhatia
Charred Wooden Shingles and Vast Natural Light in a Community-Oriented Senior Residence

Project in-detail

Incorporating charred wooden shingles and expansive glazing, the architecture creates a harmonious blend of private living and communal spaces designed to enhance the quality of life for its senior residents.
5 key facts about this project
01
The building features inverted room layouts that enhance social interaction while maintaining privacy.
02
Charred wooden shingles are integrated into the façade to provide both aesthetic appeal and fire resistance.
03
Cross-laminated timber panels are utilized for sustainable construction and superior thermal insulation.
04
A central communal core serves as the heart of the design, promoting community gatherings and activities.
05
Expansive glazing offers extensive natural light while creating a seamless connection between interior spaces and the surrounding landscape.

## Project Overview
The Elderly Home in Portugal is designed to provide a supportive living environment that balances individual privacy with communal engagement. Located within a thoughtfully considered setting, the project aims to challenge conventional approaches to elderly care by fostering a sense of community without sacrificing residents' autonomy. The design promotes a homelike atmosphere, encouraging both social interaction and independent living.

## Spatial Configuration and Community Integration
The architectural strategy adopts a “cellular village” concept, featuring inverted private rooms arranged around a central community core. This layout not only facilitates social connections among residents but also safeguards personal space. The design includes various communal areas such as a gathering room, library, therapy room, and an amphitheater, each intended to stimulate interaction and promote shared activities. The interplay of private and public amenities is intentionally crafted to enhance daily experiences for residents.

## Material Choices and Sustainability
Attention to materiality is evident throughout the design, with a focus on creating a functional yet inviting environment. Concrete ensures structural stability, while extensive glazing fosters natural light and connectivity to the outdoors. Steel elements contribute to durability and a modern aesthetic, whereas wood finishes add warmth to interior spaces. The project incorporates sustainable practices, including energy-efficient systems and green rooftops, minimizing its ecological footprint. Furthermore, the design respects local cultural contexts and integrates natural terrain, resulting in varied levels that enhance outdoor experiences.

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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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