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Corten Steel and Natural Stone Fusion Creates Cultural Hub in Historic Landscape

Author:
Nicola Delledonne
Corten Steel and Natural Stone Fusion Creates Cultural Hub in Historic Landscape

Project in-detail

The integration of weathered Corten steel and preserved natural stone redefines the historic watchtower into a multifunctional cultural hub that invites community engagement and artistic expression.
5 key facts about this project
01
Integration of Corten steel and natural stone emphasizes the contrast between modern and historical elements.
02
The project preserves the remnants of a 16th-century watchtower, maintaining its structural integrity while introducing new uses.
03
Flexible spaces accommodate temporary exhibitions and community gatherings, fostering cultural engagement.
04
Strategic landscaping incorporates native vegetation to enhance biodiversity and ecological sustainability.
05
Upper levels feature panoramic views alongside performance spaces, highlighting the site's coastal context.

### Project Overview
Located in Lecce, Italy, the Torre Rinalda project focuses on the adaptive reuse of a 16th-century watchtower, now in a state of partial ruin. The design approach aims to integrate the historical fabric of the structure with contemporary requirements, creating a space that serves as both a cultural venue and an exhibition site. The project reflects a commitment to honoring the site's historical significance while also accommodating modern community functions.

### Spatial Configurations
The architectural layout comprises distinct levels, each designated for specific uses to foster interaction and engagement. The ground floor features a lounge bar and patio designed for visitor convergence while maintaining views of the surrounding landscape. The first floor serves as a dedicated exhibition space, offering an immersive art-viewing experience that interweaves historical elements with contemporary presentations. On the second floor, an upper lobby facilitates movement towards a performance theater, enhancing accessibility and user experience. The third floor is multifaceted, housing both a theater and a viewpoint that offers expansive vistas of the coastline, effectively merging the historical narrative of the watchtower with a modern architectural function.

### Materials and Sustainability
The material selection reflects a duality of historical resonance and modern expression. Natural stone from the original structure retains the historical context, while corten steel introduces a contemporary element with its weathered aesthetic. Wood features prominently in the upper levels, contributing warmth and sustainability to the design. Glass façades enhance the connection between interior and exterior spaces, while landscaping and climbing plants support ecological sustainability and biophilic design principles. This thoughtful integration of materials not only underscores the historical essence of the site but also promotes a cohesive dialogue between architecture and the natural environment.

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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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