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Charred Wooden Shingles and Venetian Brick Creating Community Focused Elderly Housing

Authors:
Davide Scaramuzza, Hanzhe Shen, Xinyue Wang
Charred Wooden Shingles and Venetian Brick Creating Community Focused Elderly Housing

Project in-detail

Utilizing charred wooden shingles and locally sourced Venetian brick, the design fosters a cohesive community space that prioritizes social interaction and accessibility for elderly residents.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and aesthetic appeal.
02
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels for improved structural efficiency and sustainability.
03
Features a bent A-frame design to optimize natural light and ventilation.
04
Includes multiple shared courtyards to promote social interaction among residents.
05
Strategically oriented to provide optimal views of the surrounding Venetian landscape.

### Project Overview

Located in the northeastern region of Venice, Italy, the elderly housing initiative aims to address the accommodation needs of the aging population while revitalizing an underutilized urban area. The design respects the historical context of Venice, striving to harmonize with its unique architectural character. The intention is to create functional living spaces that foster social interaction and enhance community well-being through thoughtful integration of accessibility and visibility.

### Spatial Configuration and Functionality

The architectural layout features open and semi-public courtyards that facilitate social integration among residents. A variety of shared spaces are designated for communal activities, merging public and private realms. The volumetric design strategically arranges building masses to create a hierarchy that opens vistas towards the surrounding landscape, promoting both tranquility and connectivity. Mixed-use planning is employed, incorporating recreational rooms, dining facilities, and therapy spaces to accommodate diverse resident needs. The residential units are designed in multiple configurations—single, double, triple, and co-housing options—ensuring flexibility in living arrangements.

### Materiality and Sustainability

The construction primarily employs traditional Venetian brick, which ties the new structures to the local architectural vernacular. Extensive use of glass panels enhances natural light and promotes visual connections between indoor and outdoor environments. Ground levels utilize concrete for durability in Venice's saline setting. Sustainability is a core principle: a natural ventilation system is implemented to optimize indoor climate, and solar panels alongside thermal panels are positioned on the flat roofs to harness renewable energy. Insulation strategies are specifically chosen to address the city's climate challenges, promoting energy efficiency throughout the building.

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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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