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Eco-Friendly Community Housing Featuring Beige Lime Plaster And Sustainable Outdoor Spaces

Author:
Bettina Pusa
Eco-Friendly Community Housing Featuring Beige Lime Plaster And Sustainable Outdoor Spaces

Project in-detail

Beige lime plaster and orange ceramic tiles define a residential development in Portugal that seamlessly integrates flexible communal spaces and private outdoor areas, promoting sustainable living for its residents.
5 key facts about this project
01
Beige lime plaster enhances thermal regulation while providing a natural aesthetic.
02
Orange ceramic tiles accentuate architectural features, adding color and texture to the façade.
03
Flexible communal spaces encourage social interaction, integrating private and shared areas.
04
The design prioritizes cross-ventilation to improve indoor air quality and energy efficiency.
05
Outdoor terraces incorporate climbing plants for natural shading and habitat support.

## Overview
Located in Portugal, the design of Escada focuses on enhancing residential living while fostering a connection with the surrounding hillsides. The project aims to create a harmonious relationship between occupants and the natural landscape, which is fundamental to the residential experience.

### Spatial Configuration
The architectural layout consists of a two-story structure that adapts to the site's topography. On the ground floor, communal amenities, including a lobby, dining area, and therapy rooms, are designed to encourage interaction among residents. The floor plan incorporates flexible living units, accommodating both single and twin rooms that surround central communal spaces to facilitate social engagement. Significant zones include a main lobby featuring large windows for natural light and residential units oriented for optimal views of the landscape. Balconies extend personal living spaces outdoors, while an integrated courtyard supports biodiversity, enhanced by climbing plants that contribute to a rich microclimate.

### Material Selection and Sustainability
The choice of materials is integral to the project's aesthetic and ecological goals. Key materials include beige lime plaster for exterior finishes, orange ceramic tiles for architectural highlights, and wooden structural elements that promote thermal efficiency and sustainability. The use of concrete composite structures ensures durability in moisture-prone areas, while painted concrete columns withstand wear. White metal railings add both safety and a modern aesthetic to balconies, and white roofing contributes to heat reflection, maintaining comfortable interior temperatures. Sustainable features, such as cork insulation and provisions for solar panel integration, enhance energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint, aligning with contemporary environmental standards.

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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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