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Diamond-Shaped Pavilion Featuring Prisma Glass and Floating Pontoons for Marine Research

Authors:
Courtney Wuerfel-wright, Hanna Rohst, Yi-ting Lai
Diamond-Shaped Pavilion Featuring Prisma Glass and Floating Pontoons for Marine Research

Project in-detail

Anchored at sea level, the diamond-shaped pavilion combines Prisma glass and floating pontoons to create a space for marine research and cultural exchange.
5 key facts about this project
01
Diamond shape enhances structural stability and aesthetic appeal.
02
Prisma glass façade creates a visual connection to the marine environment.
03
Anchored pontoons allow flexibility in design and function.
04
Underwater research facilities support marine biology studies.
05
Modular layout facilitates international cultural events and exchanges.

The DEEP BLUE Taiwan Pavilion stands as a notable structure at the edge of the sea, engaging with both the water and the sky. It serves as an underwater research station and a cultural pavilion, connecting people to marine and atmospheric environments. The design features a diamond-like shape, symbolizing clarity and the human desire to understand the unknown.

Architectural Composition

The pavilion comprises multiple functional areas that promote interaction and learning. The culture pavilion includes workshops, a café, and spaces for conferences. These elements encourage both local and international visitors to engage with the building and its purpose. The design reflects a commitment to community involvement while supporting narratives of scientific and cultural discovery.

Structural Integrity

A series of anchored pontoons form the pavilion's main structure, creating a flexible platform that can adapt for various events. This design minimizes environmental impact by maintaining stability in the marine setting. The anchored core provides a secure foundation, allowing the surrounding ecosystem to thrive without disruption.

Material Selection

Transparency and light are central themes, achieved through the use of Prisma glass in the façade. This choice allows natural light to fill the interior while creating a connection with the outdoor landscape. Metal sandwich construction ensures durability, and the railings, made of metal wiring infill, enhance safety. The plastic pontoons are designed with circular air infill, ensuring they float well and remain stable in fluctuating water levels.

Design Detail

The pavilion’s base features fiberglass reinforced plastic formwork, providing a robust foundation for the structure. Acrylic underwater glass panels create opportunities for immersion, allowing visitors to look into the marine world below. This design encourages exploration and inquiry, merging the realms of science and nature in a meaningful way.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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