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Cross-Laminate Timber Community Designed for Social Connection

Authors:
Shahrooz Zayandehroodi, Elham Moradi
Cross-Laminate Timber Community Designed for Social Connection

Project in-detail

Constructed with cross-laminate timber, this community-focused building promotes social interaction among residents through thoughtfully designed communal spaces and a variety of living units.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with sustainable cross-laminated timber panels to enhance structural integrity.
02
Charred wooden shingles applied for both aesthetic appeal and fire resistance.
03
Design features a bent A-frame structure to optimize natural light and ventilation.
04
Includes diverse living unit sizes to accommodate a variety of resident needs.
05
Focuses on communal areas to promote social interaction among residents.

"Architecture to End Human Loneliness" focuses on reducing social isolation in urban life. The project is situated in a lively urban area and aims to foster community through thoughtful design. The concept revolves around creating connections among residents while meeting their diverse housing needs.

Structural Efficiency

The design features important structural elements like pre-manufactured glulam columns and cast-in columns. These components provide stability to the building and allow for quicker construction. Cross-laminate mass timber panels are also included, which highlight a commitment to sustainable building practices. Using engineered wood products is becoming increasingly common in architecture, and this project exemplifies that trend.

Diverse Living Spaces

A significant aspect of the design is the range of living options available. There are studio layouts of 313 square feet, one-bedroom units measuring 626 square feet, and two-bedroom units at 939 square feet. This variety accommodates different lifestyles and ensures inclusivity. Offering multiple unit sizes helps to provide adaptable housing solutions that can fit a broad spectrum of residents.

Community-Centric Design

The focus on communal spaces is crucial for encouraging interactions among residents. The layout promotes opportunities for social engagement, helping to reduce feelings of isolation that can occur in urban environments. These common areas are thoughtfully designed to foster a sense of belonging and create a supportive atmosphere for everyone.

Attention to detail is evident in the shared amenities, which enhance both the function and look of the living environment. Each communal space is crafted to invite residents to gather, reinforcing the intent to build a connected community. This focus on social interaction permeates the design, ensuring that the spaces serve as a hub for residents to come together.

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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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