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Curved Facades of Charred Wood Shingles and Natural Light in a Senior Housing Community

Authors:
Giulia Grifoni, Francesco Ligabue
Curved Facades of Charred Wood Shingles and Natural Light in a Senior Housing Community

Project in-detail

Curved facades clad in charred wood shingles enhance natural light while fostering community interaction in a thoughtfully designed senior housing complex.
5 key facts about this project
01
Curved facades integrate natural light while providing aesthetic continuity with the surrounding landscape.
02
Charred wooden shingles enhance durability and maintenance while offering a distinctive visual appeal.
03
Cross-laminated timber panels are utilized for structural efficiency and reduced carbon footprint.
04
Community spaces are strategically placed to promote interaction and accessibility among residents.
05
The design features a bent A-frame roof, facilitating unique spatial experiences and optimizing views.

## Project Overview

"WAVE" is situated in the northern region of Liège, Belgium, an area undergoing revitalization due to its location near the Meuse River and adjacent canals. The project aims to create a communal hub that primarily serves elderly residents, fostering a serene living environment that integrates harmoniously with the surrounding landscape.

## Community-Focused Spatial Strategy

The design emphasizes community engagement through its spatial organization, providing a range of living arrangements including studio flats, one-bedroom apartments, and three-room units. Key communal spaces, such as kitchens, gyms, libraries, and lounges, encourage interaction among residents, while designated hobby areas support lifelong learning. The layout facilitates both private and communal experiences, promoting social ties within the resident community.

## Architectural and Material Composition

The form of "WAVE" draws on its riverine context, with a roofline inspired by the sails of boats, enhancing the connection between architecture and water. The building employs a combination of traditional and contemporary materials such as brick for structural integrity, concrete for modern aesthetics, glass for transparency, and wood for warmth in living spaces. The design features undulating forms and strategically placed windows that invite natural light, creating a welcoming atmosphere. The façade integrates with the environment, further enriching the residents' experience through the incorporation of greenery and open spaces.

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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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Chair
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Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
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MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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