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Egg Crate Canopy and Sustainable Stucco Create Climate-Responsive Family Residence

Egg Crate Canopy and Sustainable Stucco Create Climate-Responsive Family Residence

Project in-detail

The integration of an egg crate canopy and lightweight stucco creates a climate-responsive dwelling that prioritizes energy efficiency and cultural interaction, designed to accommodate family life in the UAE.
5 key facts about this project
01
The egg crate canopy provides effective shading while enhancing natural ventilation.
02
Light-colored acrylic stucco minimizes heat absorption in the harsh UAE climate.
03
Separate congregational spaces for men and women accommodate cultural norms.
04
Flexible indoor-outdoor connections promote multifunctional family living.
05
Double-glazed windows with PVC frames optimize thermal performance and durability.

## Project Overview

The single-family dwelling is situated in the challenging climatic conditions of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This design emphasizes environmental integration and aims to improve occupant comfort and functionality. The intent is to minimize energy consumption through sustainable materials and innovative design approaches that respond to both traditional practices and the region's climate.

## Spatial Configuration

The dwelling features a two-storey layout characterized by distinct functional zones. The first floor comprises communal areas, including dining and kitchen spaces, alongside segregated social rooms for men and women, designed to facilitate circulation while maintaining individual privacy for essential facilities like restrooms and the pantry. The second floor is primarily reserved for private sleeping quarters, including a master suite and additional bedrooms, interconnected by a common upper hallway that leads to open terraces, allowing for enhanced outdoor interaction.

## Materiality and Sustainability

Material choices are critical to the project's sustainability and visual coherence. Light-colored acrylic stucco on the exterior walls enhances solar reflectivity, while a specialized roof assembly with polymer-modified bitumen and insulated foam concrete is employed to limit thermal transfer. Double-glazed windows containing Argon gas offer thermal insulation, framed in light-colored PVC for aesthetic consistency. Additionally, white aluminum shade fins and an egg crate canopy are integrated to mitigate solar gains. Lightweight concrete flooring, combined with a durable finishing layer, promotes structural efficiency while ensuring longevity.

Renewable energy systems, such as strategically positioned solar panels, contribute to the dwelling's energy needs and sustainability objectives. Passive cooling strategies, including shading patterns and natural ventilation through wind catchers, are included to optimize indoor comfort during the hot months. The design supports flexible usage areas that facilitate indoor-outdoor connections, fostering social interaction and allowing occupants to adapt their environment to suit personal preferences.

Notable features also include an emphasis on cultural sensitivity, with designated spaces for communal gatherings that respect traditional family structures in the UAE. Overall, the project’s design accommodates future modifications, ensuring its relevance for subsequent generations.

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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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