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Charred Wooden Shingles Blend With Vertical Gardens in Sustainable Community Library

Author:
Maksim Kuzura
Charred Wooden Shingles Blend With Vertical Gardens in Sustainable Community Library

Project in-detail

Integrating charred wooden shingles and vertical gardens, the library offers a unique blend of sustainable design and community engagement, fostering a space dedicated to reading and learning.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design incorporates large trees integrated into the structure, enhancing natural aesthetics and biodiversity.
02
Charred wooden shingles create a sustainable, fire-resistant exterior while providing unique visual texture.
03
Vertical gardens strategize the facade, promoting ecological balance and outdoor engagement.
04
Cross-laminated timber panels reduce carbon footprint and contribute to thermal efficiency.
05
The bent A-frame design facilitates optimal natural light while fostering a sense of openness.

### Overview

"Reading Lullaby" is situated within a landscape that integrates seamlessly with its environment, designed to enhance community engagement and foster a love for reading. The intent is to create a multifunctional space that redefines traditional library roles, making it an active participant in the lives of its users. The structure responds to its natural context while embracing modern architectural techniques to form a distinctive educational and recreational facility.

### Architectural Form and Spatial Strategy

The design of "Reading Lullaby" features a striking profile characterized by sweeping curves and angular forms, differentiating it from conventional library architecture. An inclined transition within the building's structure facilitates fluid movement and interaction throughout the space. Interior zones are purposefully varied, accommodating both quiet reading and collaborative learning activities. The Library Hall serves as a communal hub, designed to host workshops and events and reinforce the facility's role as a center for social engagement.

### Integration with Nature and Sustainability

A central tenet of the design is its integration with the surrounding natural landscape. The use of large trees within the structure and cascading vertical gardens enhances biodiversity while fostering a strong connection between the built environment and nature. Outdoor reading platforms provide immersive literary experiences, situated to offer views of the landscape. The selected material palette emphasizes sustainability, incorporating wood for warmth, concrete for structural integrity, glass for transparency, and steel for support in innovative forms. This combination not only addresses environmental concerns but also enriches the user experience through optimal natural light and aesthetic coherence.

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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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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