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Cross-Laminated Timber Enclosure Housing Integrated Pollinator Gardens and Educational Spaces

Authors:
Antony R Brown, Nadia Bégin
Cross-Laminated Timber Enclosure Housing Integrated Pollinator Gardens and Educational Spaces

Project in-detail

Integrating bat habitats and native planting into a cross-laminated timber structure, the facility serves as a dedicated space for ecological education and community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using cross-laminated timber panels, enhancing structural efficiency.
02
Incorporates built-in bat habitats to promote local wildlife conservation.
03
Features charred wooden shingles for improved durability and aesthetic appeal.
04
Designed with a bent A-frame structure to optimize natural ventilation.
05
Includes dedicated native planting areas to support regional biodiversity.

## Project Overview
The Multi-Species Education Center is situated on a 26-hectare conservation easement and aims to promote ecological awareness and coexistence through dedicated educational facilities. In response to contemporary environmental challenges, the design integrates sustainable practices while fostering an immersive learning experience. The project emphasizes ecological stewardship and the incorporation of diverse habitats within its architectural framework.

## Spatial Organization and User Experience
The center features a circular plan intended to symbolize unity and inclusivity, facilitating fluid movement and interaction between users and the surrounding natural environment. The layout is strategically designed across three levels to accommodate various educational functions: the first floor houses large classrooms for collaborative activities, the second floor offers specialized laboratories, and the third floor provides administrative offices with views of the landscape. Open walkways enhance connectivity and encourage engagement with both the building and its ecological context.

## Materiality and Sustainability
The construction employs cross-laminated timber (CLT) as the primary material, recognized for its structural integrity and sustainability. Other materials integrate organic soil substrates, steel framing, and glass, maximizing natural light and visual access to the environment. The building incorporates energy-generating technologies, such as solar power and rainwater collection systems, ensuring energy self-sufficiency. Additionally, a biological wastewater treatment system exemplifies responsible resource management. Designed biodiversity elements, including bat attics and nesting boxes for local bird species, foster ecological integration and reflect a commitment to coexistence with wildlife.

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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
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Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
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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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