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Cross-Laminated Timber Residence Featuring Charred Wooden Shingles With Integrated Community Spaces

Author:
Martyna Apczyńska
Cross-Laminated Timber Residence Featuring Charred Wooden Shingles With Integrated Community Spaces

Project in-detail

With cross-laminated timber panels and charred wooden shingles, the design creates a cohesive living environment that emphasizes communal interaction and flexibility for elderly residents.
5 key facts about this project
01
Cross-laminated timber panels form the structural core, enhancing durability and sustainability.
02
Charred wooden shingles provide not only aesthetic appeal but also increased weather resistance.
03
The design features a bent A-frame that optimizes natural light and ventilation throughout the spaces.
04
Flexible floor plans allow for easy adaptation to the residents' changing needs over time.
05
Integrated communal spaces encourage social interaction while maintaining individual privacy.

### Overview and Conceptual Framework
Grannskapet, meaning "The Neighborhood," is an architectural proposal designed to alleviate social disconnection and loneliness among the elderly population. It aims to create a community-focused living environment that adapts to the diverse needs of its residents. By combining individual living units with shared facilities, the design encourages social interaction while respecting personal privacy.

### Spatial Strategy
The layout features a modular design that accommodates varying living arrangements for singles, couples, and small families. The flexibility of these units allows for configuration adjustments, enabling them to form larger neighborhoods in response to changing resident dynamics. Common areas are intentionally placed to promote engagement, reducing feelings of isolation. Pedestrian-friendly pathways meander through the site, enhancing accessibility and providing convenient routes to communal spaces and amenities, such as a community center, shops, and restaurants.

### Materiality and Sustainability
Constructed with sustainable materials, the neighborhood employs Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) for structural walls, blending durability with aesthetic warmth. The use of wooden beams reflects Scandinavian design principles and supports the roof structure. Natural light is maximized through large windows, fostering open interiors and outdoor connectivity. Sustainable features, including integrated solar panels and energy-efficient insulation systems, contribute to resource efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The design also incorporates adjustable floor plans and modern utilities like heat pumps, positioning Grannskapet as a versatile solution for various resident needs over time.

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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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