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Colorful Mortar Walls and Community Public Plaza Redefining Social Spaces

Authors:
Asa Barak, Daniel Cazap, Sofia Modesti Funes, Romy Zheng
Colorful Mortar Walls and Community Public Plaza Redefining Social Spaces

Project in-detail

Colorful mortar walls and repurposed masonry create a public plaza that fosters community interaction and engagement within a new cultural center.
5 key facts about this project
01
Colorful mortar enhances aesthetic appeal while representing local heritage.
02
Repurposed masonry from La Vivienda adds historical significance to the design.
03
The segmented roof structure maximizes sunlight and supports water collection.
04
Public plaza facilitates community interaction and echoes medieval town layouts.
05
Designed with an emphasis on preserving natural landscapes and agricultural space.

The Artist's Residence and Cultural Center is located near La Puebla de Fantova, bringing together modern design with the traditional feel of the village. It aims to serve as a new community hub called La Coma, enhancing the local environment while fostering social interaction and sustainability. The design concept is inspired by the work of Antoni Gaudí, focusing on creating connections between existing and new structures.

Design Strategy

The layout is based on medieval town planning, emphasizing public spaces that are interconnected. This setup reflects the densely packed rooftops of La Puebla de Fantova, promoting efficient rainwater runoff and energy conservation through shared walls. The buildings are arranged beneath a segmented roof, utilizing the slope of the land to capture sunlight while minimizing disturbances to the natural landscape.

Public Engagement

Public interaction is a key element in the design. A multi-use outdoor space encourages community involvement and activities. The center includes a library, coworking areas, dining spaces, and a great room for yoga and events. These adaptable areas are designed for flexibility, allowing residents to come together and share experiences in a welcoming environment.

Sustainability Initiatives

Sustainability practices are woven into the design, with an emphasis on preserving agricultural and natural spaces. Construction is focused on the eastern side of the site to limit environmental impacts. Rainwater collection systems, including a cistern, are incorporated to improve the environmental footprint of the building. This aligns with current trends in sustainable architecture.

Design Details

The existing La Vivienda structure acts as a central node within the new design. Its masonry will be repurposed, adding a layer of history to the new buildings. Colorful mortar will be used for the hyperbolic walls, creating visual interest and reinforcing the connection to the village's heritage. This combination of old and new elements gives the project its unique character, carefully blending into the context of the community.

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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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