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Constructed Wetland Integration with Precast Concrete and Modular Shelving in a Sustainable Residential Setting

Authors:
Gregory Muggli, Joshua Moskowitz, Christopher Griffith
Constructed Wetland Integration with Precast Concrete and Modular Shelving in a Sustainable Residential Setting

Project in-detail

The integration of a constructed wetland system with modular shelving and precast concrete elements creates a versatile living environment that reinforces sustainability in a contemporary residential design.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed wetland system filters and recycles greywater, enhancing sustainability.
02
Modular shelving integrated into the structure allows for customizable interior spaces.
03
Precast concrete panels create a durable, low-maintenance exterior façade.
04
Double-glazed windows optimize energy efficiency while maximizing natural light.
05
Open-air courtyard promotes indoor-outdoor living and enhances ventilation.

**Project Overview**
Cascade House reinterprets traditional courtyard residential design in an urban context, focusing on the integration of public and private living spaces. The layout promotes transparency and interaction, fostering a responsive living environment that reflects contemporary family dynamics. Emphasis on vertical circulation allows natural light and airflow to permeate the interior spaces, enhancing connectivity throughout the home.

**Spatial Organization**
The interior layout of Cascade House features high ceilings and expansive openings, maximizing the influx of natural light. Public areas are strategically interspersed with private zones, balancing communal engagement with individual privacy. The incorporation of modular shelving allows residents to customize their spaces, adapting to personal preferences while maintaining the overall integrity of the design. The open-plan layout includes unique areas such as an open-air courtyard and strategically placed balconies, facilitating an interaction with the outdoors.

**Materiality and Sustainability**
Architectural expression is defined by a geometric façade constructed with large precast concrete frames, which provides structural stability and thermal efficiency. Key materials include double-glazed casement windows for enhanced energy performance and acoustic comfort, matte finished hardwood flooring for tactile contrast, and Baltic birch plywood for interior elements. A constructed wetland system integrates greywater recycling, representing a commitment to sustainable practices. Solar panels are seamlessly integrated into the roof design, contributing to a renewable energy strategy. Additionally, double-leaf masonry walls reduce thermal exchange, optimizing energy consumption within the home.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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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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