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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
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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 2026
MICROHOME 2026
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #11
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
100,000€ Prize / 2026

The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

`
Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

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Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
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