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Egg-Shaped Dwelling With Fiberglass Shell and Photovoltaic Cells

Author:
Aleksa Grgurović
Egg-Shaped Dwelling With Fiberglass Shell and Photovoltaic Cells

Project in-detail

The egg-shaped micro house combines a fiberglass shell with photovoltaic cells to create an energy-efficient living space, offering comfort and stability while maximizing limited ground area.
5 key facts about this project
01
Egg-shaped design enhances natural stability and energy efficiency.
02
Fiberglass shell provides superior thermal insulation and durability.
03
Separate living platform allows safe movement during seismic events.
04
Integrated photovoltaic cells generate renewable energy for household use.
05
Storage canisters for firewood and water serve as structural counterweights.

The Heart-Shaped Box micro house is designed to maximize living comfort while minimizing its footprint. It combines a spacious living area, a practical kitchen with a fireplace, and a separate bathroom, making it a functional space for everyday life. The overall shape is egg-like, which supports both energy efficiency and structural stability, making it suitable for a variety of environments.

Design Efficiency

The architectural concept focuses on the egg shape's benefits, particularly its area-to-volume ratio. This design helps reduce heat loss, which is key to maintaining a comfortable indoor climate while keeping energy costs low. In a world where energy efficiency is crucial, this approach shows how useful design can be in practical terms.

Structural Stability

The micro house incorporates a dual-system stabilization mechanism. This system separates the living platform from the outer shell, allowing for greater resilience against external forces. The egg shape contributes to this stability, providing safety during events such as earthquakes. Here, structural integrity is not only a feature but a priority in ensuring comfort and security.

Material Considerations

The outer shell is made from fiberglass, a material that offers durability and good thermal insulation. This choice enhances the house’s energy retention capabilities and aligns with a broader commitment to sustainability. Photovoltaic cells are fitted into the exterior, enabling the house to generate its own electricity, further reducing reliance on external energy sources.

Functional Integration

Underneath the living platform, storage canisters for firewood and water are thoughtfully included in the design. These canisters serve practical purposes, providing resources necessary for daily living. They also act as counterweights, adding to the overall stability of the micro house. This kind of integration supports a self-sufficient lifestyle, allowing occupants to replenish essential resources easily.

The Heart-Shaped Box micro house illustrates how thoughtful design can combine comfort and practicality. By focusing on efficient use of space and energy, it offers a reliable solution for modern living. The details of its layout and structure highlight a commitment to creating a harmonious living environment that meets the needs of its inhabitants.

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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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