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Cork-Covered Courtyards Enhancing Flexible Urban Workspaces

Authors:
Tugce Kakirman, Jeslyn Low, Gabrielle Moran
Cork-Covered Courtyards Enhancing Flexible Urban Workspaces
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Utilizing cork-covered courtyards and flexible modular spaces, the design creates a contemporary urban workspace that prioritizes sustainability and community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Cork-covered courtyards enhance user interaction and promote well-being.
02
Modular design allows for easy reconfiguration to adapt to changing needs.
03
Eco board materials support sustainability and reduce environmental impact.
04
A public agora with tiered seating accommodates larger community events.
05
Flexible workspace options encourage collaboration in an urban setting.

The design located along the Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid focuses on modern workspace flexibility in an urban setting. It addresses new ways of working, creating various environments that suit individual needs and encourage teamwork. With its prime location, the project connects important cultural sites and transport networks, allowing for easy access and interaction with the city.

Modular Design

The approach features a modular design built on a grid system that can adapt to different staff arrangements. Each workspace can be reconfigured as required, responding to the changing demands of work. This flexibility is essential in today's office settings, where the need for adaptable spaces is more important than ever.

Communal Spaces

Communal areas play a significant role in the design, especially the courtyards intended for casual meetings and collaboration. These spaces enhance social interaction, inviting employees to gather and share ideas. By integrating greenery and open-air environments, the design helps create a pleasant atmosphere that fosters a sense of community among users.

Sustainable Practices

Sustainability influences many design choices. Extensive use of glass allows natural light to enter workspaces, which helps reduce energy consumption. This conscious decision improves the workspace environment and promotes a comfortable and healthy setting for all users.

Workspace Variety

The layout includes different types of spaces such as private offices, flex desks, and collaborative meeting rooms equipped with sliding whiteboard panels. Each area serves a specific function while reflecting the overall theme of versatility. A public agora with tiered seating is also included, enabling larger gatherings and enhancing the building’s functionality.

Materials selected for the project include a cork green roof, eco board, waterproofing sheets, thermacork insulation, and a timber frame structure. Each material fulfills a vital role in supporting efficiency and performance. These choices add to the design’s overall effectiveness in creating a thoughtful workspace that aligns with the needs of its users while blending harmoniously within its urban context.

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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.

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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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