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Charred Wooden Shingles and Vertical Gardens in Sustainable Senior Housing

Charred Wooden Shingles and Vertical Gardens in Sustainable Senior Housing
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Utilizing charred wooden shingles and expansive vertical gardens, the design promotes sustainability while providing a cohesive living environment tailored for seniors.
5 key facts about this project
01
Uses charred wooden shingles for enhanced weather resistance and aesthetic appeal.
02
Features vertical gardens that promote resident engagement with nature.
03
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels for structural efficiency and sustainability.
04
Includes adaptable living units designed for changing resident needs over time.
05
Utilizes a bent A-frame design to optimize natural light and spatial dynamics.

## Overview
This project addresses the growing demand for senior housing by prioritizing community engagement and environmental sustainability. Located at the intersection of Bruagasse and Walltorstrasse in a densely populated urban area, the design promotes interaction among residents while ensuring comfortable, private living spaces that foster independence.

## Spatial Strategy
The design incorporates multiple communal areas, encouraging social gatherings and activities that enhance resident connectivity. The layout features both private and common zones, allowing for a balance between personal privacy and community interaction. Landscaped garden spaces integrated into the site provide opportunities for outdoor engagement and contribute to residents' well-being. The careful organization of entry points and pathways ensures accessibility for individuals with varying mobility, promoting a fully inclusive environment.

## Materiality and Environmental Considerations
The project utilizes a combination of sustainable materials, including timber framing, which reduces the carbon footprint while imparting a warm aesthetic. Durable masonry and stone elements provide structural integrity, while large glass facades enhance natural light and visual connections with the outdoors. Additionally, the inclusion of ceramic roof tiles contributes to weather resistance and aligns with the architectural vernacular of the surrounding area. Key features such as vertical gardens and integrated water features further support ecological goals, encouraging interactions with nature while enhancing residents' quality of life. Adaptable living units are designed to accommodate changing needs, supporting the dynamic lifestyles of the aging population.

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Enter an open architecture
competition now

Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025

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

Open architecture competitions

  • Closest deadline first
  • Project competitions first
    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge

AIA (American Institute of Architects) invites you to design affordable housing in Denver

Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 2025

Recurring architecture competitions

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Final registration deadline 18 September 2025
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Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #7 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 18 September 2025
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
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Re:Form - 
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Choose a site—used, abandoned, or forgotten—anywhere in the world, and give it a new purpose

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Prize Monetary award
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Early bird registration deadline 2 October 2025
Hospice - 
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Terminally ill

Design a safe and supportive space to those struggling with a terminal illness

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Prize 10,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 9 October 2025
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Take a step and make a statement!

Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 15 October 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 October 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025
The Last 
Nuclear Bomb Memorial

Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

Edition #6 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
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Final registration deadline 13 November 2025
Concrete 
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Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025

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