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Curvilinear Forms and Natural Stone Create Community-Centric Living Spaces

Curvilinear Forms and Natural Stone Create Community-Centric Living Spaces
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Curvilinear forms crafted from local stone and enhanced by louvered screens define a residential space that prioritizes community interaction and personal privacy.
5 key facts about this project
01
Curvilinear forms create a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces.
02
Local stone cladding reflects traditional Emirati construction techniques.
03
Louvered screens enhance privacy while allowing natural light and airflow.
04
Modular design facilitates adaptability for changing family needs.
05
Emphasis on communal areas fosters social interaction and cultural engagement.

### Project Overview
Located in the United Arab Emirates, this residential design project is informed by Emirati cultural heritage while integrating modern design principles and sustainable practices. The intent is to honor the historical significance of traditional Emirati stone houses while addressing contemporary demands through innovative spatial organization and modular design.

### Spatial Strategy and User Interaction
The project features a distinct architecture defined by crescent forms and rounded edges, which contribute to a warm and inviting atmosphere. The layout reflects the traditional majlis, fostering community interaction while ensuring personal privacy. Interior spaces are arranged in an open-plan format that encourages connectivity among key areas such as the kitchen, dining, and living spaces, allowing for flexible use and adaptability to changing family dynamics.

### Materiality and Sustainability
A thoughtful material palette has been developed to resonate with the surrounding environment, employing local stone for external cladding to evoke traditional construction techniques, while accentuating features with wood elements. Expansive glass windows enhance natural light and views, designed for privacy through double-layered construction. The project incorporates sustainable design strategies, including optimized passive cooling, effective insulation, and water-efficient fixtures, addressing the challenges of the desert climate. Community engagement is central, with spaces designed to facilitate gatherings and interactions, reflecting the cultural importance of hospitality in Emirati society.

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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

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