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Dome-Covered Community Hub with Rammed Earth and Gabion Elements

Authors:
Paola dalila Martínez chávez, Jonathán noé Salazar anaya, Arely Montes hurtado
Dome-Covered Community Hub with Rammed Earth and Gabion Elements

Project in-detail

A dome-covered structure constructed with rammed earth and gabion walls creates a functional community hub designed for diverse group activities and interactions.
5 key facts about this project
01
Central dome allows for natural light and nighttime stargazing.
02
Interior garden connected for outdoor activities and enhanced air quality.
03
Spiral hall design supports flexible seating arrangements for diverse gatherings.
04
Strategically placed dry toilets for improved accessibility and maintenance.
05
Buried garden integrates with terrain to optimize natural lighting.

Eco serves as a communal hub designed to facilitate social interaction and connection among its users. Located in an environment conducive to group activities, the design is inspired by the concept of echo, symbolizing the relationships and interactions among community members. The aim is to create adaptable spaces that support various gatherings, workshops, and events, thus enriching the community experience.

Central Hall Configuration

The central hall is shaped in a spiral form, allowing for flexible seating arrangements that can accommodate groups of different sizes. A Yurt-type roof caps the hall, efficiently managing the entry of natural light throughout the day while providing an open, expansive feel. Well-placed windows enhance daylight access and promote air circulation, which contributes to a comfortable indoor climate.

Multipurpose Rooms and Outdoor Connection

Within the structure, multipurpose rooms are included, with one room directly accessing an interior garden. This connection encourages the blending of indoor and outdoor spaces, making it suitable for activities like yoga and workshops that benefit from natural surroundings. The design allows these rooms to serve multiple functions at once, maximizing their utility.

Accessibility and User Experience

Accessibility is a key focus, with dry toilets placed thoughtfully for ease of maintenance and access. The kitchen, oriented toward the north, helps keep temperatures down while providing a functional space for cooking. An exterior hall guides users toward the entrances while providing shade, improving overall accessibility and comfort for the community members.

Natural Elements and Garden Integration

A notable aspect is the dome at the center of the hall, allowing for daylight illumination and evening views of the stars. This feature connects occupants to the natural environment, enhancing the experiential quality of the space. Additionally, a buried garden enclosed by Gabion retaining walls creates a connection between the inside and outside areas, taking advantage of the terrain's natural slope to maximize light and support plant growth.

As light moves through the space, the changing patterns create a unique visual dynamic, adding depth to the atmosphere within Eco.

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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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