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Curved Chapel with Metal Mesh Facade in Sustainable Elderly Co-Living Space

Author:
Piroska Varga
Curved Chapel with Metal Mesh Facade in Sustainable Elderly Co-Living Space

Project in-detail

A metal mesh façade encases a serene chapel and community gardens within an accessible co-living environment designed specifically for seniors, promoting both privacy and social interaction.
5 key facts about this project
01
A unique curved chapel integrates natural light through expansive glass panels.
02
Metal mesh facilitates privacy while allowing airflow in communal areas.
03
Green roofs enhance the building’s thermal efficiency and biodiversity.
04
Wide corridors serve as social spaces, encouraging interaction among residents.
05
Landscaped gardens are specifically designed to promote relaxation and wellness.

### Overview

Agora Home is situated in Portugal and is designed specifically for senior co-living, aimed at fostering a supportive and inclusive community. The project seeks to address the challenges of loneliness among older adults by integrating communal living spaces with private residences. This design emphasizes social interaction, while also prioritizing the individual needs of residents, creating an environment conducive to a high quality of life in a natural setting.

### Spatial Strategy and User Experience

The design caters to both communal and private living through a carefully articulated spatial strategy. Communal areas include a multipurpose community space that serves as the heart of social activities, complemented by accessible garden areas that encourage outdoor engagement and relaxation. Corridors are designed to function as social spaces, promoting interaction among residents while facilitating movement throughout the building. Private living quarters comprise 32 single rooms and 18 twin rooms, each equipped with private bathrooms and balconies, allowing for personalization and independence alongside community interaction.

### Materiality and Environmental Integration

Material choices in Agora Home reflect a commitment to sustainability and comfort. Durable concrete forms the structural basis, while expansive glass elements enhance natural light and connect indoor spaces with the outdoors. Warm natural textures, such as wood, are utilized in furnishings to create inviting interiors. Landscape materials further enhance resident experience, integrating gardens that promote tranquility and socialization. The building's strategic orientation minimizes traffic impact, providing both privacy and abundant natural light, while maintaining harmony with the surrounding landscape through thoughtful design elements such as a chapel for quiet reflection.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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