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Clay-Focused Space for Communal Creativity and Storytelling

Authors:
Victor(seulmir) Yu, Geonhee Park, Eric Lee, Derek Jeong
Clay-Focused Space for Communal Creativity and Storytelling

Project in-detail

Incorporating clay as a central element, the design fosters communal creativity and storytelling, providing a space where individual narratives converge within an interactive environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Unique focus on clay as both a material and a medium for creativity.
02
Intertwined walls create dynamic spaces for collaborative storytelling.
03
Designed to facilitate interaction between personal narratives and community experiences.
04
Emphasizes historical layers of memory through physical engagement.
05
Encourages users to leave a personal imprint on the structure with clay models.

The project "Umwelt" embarks on a thoughtful journey to explore communication and human relationships through its design. Located in a context rich in cultural narratives, it serves as a platform for interaction and dialogue. The concept reflects how each person perceives the world differently, recognized in the term umwelt, while aiming to connect the past and future of communication.

Conceptual Framework

The design is deeply connected to humanity's bond with the earth, symbolizing life's journey from soil to ground. This strong theme highlights the significance of clay as both a functional medium and a symbol of cultural continuity. Throughout history, clay has played a crucial role in construction, pottery, and art, representing the evolving story of human experiences and memories.

Spatial Arrangement

The architecture incorporates a thoughtful arrangement of spaces, featuring two independent walls that interact through positive and negative designs. Openings in these walls allow for creative expression, enabling users to engage with clay models. This setup encourages dialogue, where individual stories can merge and shift through shared experiences in the space.

Experiential Engagement

"Umwelt" is designed to balance community interaction with opportunities for personal expression. The mix of open and closed areas invites visitors to connect with one another while providing spaces for quiet reflection. This arrangement enhances the understanding of one's own narrative and the narratives of others, deepening the experience of the design.

Thematic Resonance

In addition to human connections, "Umwelt" seeks to expand its dialogue to broader themes of understanding and empathy. It hints at a communication framework that could resonate with non-human life forms. Notably, the integration of clay elements throughout the space encourages users to leave their mark, symbolizing both personal and collective stories. Each impression becomes part of an ongoing narrative, where the past and future intertwine through the act of creation.

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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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