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Elevated Canopy and Flexible Auditorium in a Community Cultural Hub

Authors:
Bartosz Bochynski, Liliana Szulakowska, Ostap Nenich, Piotr Kluszczynski
Elevated Canopy and Flexible Auditorium in a Community Cultural Hub

Project in-detail

An elevated auditorium with a distinctive canopy defines a public cultural hub in Riga, creating a vibrant plaza that caters to diverse community activities while integrating seamlessly with the urban landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Elevated auditorium design enhances acoustics and visibility.
02
Central plaza promotes community interaction and cultural events.
03
Flexible seating arrangements accommodate diverse functions.
04
Panoramic views connect interior spaces with the urban landscape.
05
Material palette includes concrete, white plaster, and wood for cohesiveness.

Riga, as a growing global city, requires a public building that captures its aspirations for the future. The proposed design is a multi-functional cultural space intended to serve both as an important landmark and a way to improve local connectivity and spatial relationships. At the heart of the design is an elevated auditorium, which is complemented by a plaza that encourages public interaction and engagement with the urban environment.

Architectural Massing

The building's shape is smooth and organic, designed to optimize acoustics while also allowing easy movement for pedestrians. This form not only helps define the structure itself but also enhances its connection to the surrounding landscape. By facilitating movement and interaction, the architecture supports a lively atmosphere in the public space.

Plaza Integration

A key aspect of the design addresses the initial undefined public space on the site. The building's volume distinguishes different areas of the terrain, separating attractive landscape zones from parking facilities. This separation helps create a plaza that can host various cultural programs, solidifying the building’s role as a community center. This adaptability ensures the space can be used for multiple events while creating a welcoming environment.

Auditorium Features

The auditorium is the project's focal point, elevated to draw attention and designed for flexibility. With configurations that support a range of event sizes, it can accommodate different activities related to both the community and culture. Visitors are welcomed by a roofed entrance that leads into the lobby, where a curved staircase adds interest and enhances accessibility. A corridor surrounding the auditorium doubles as a viewing area, providing sweeping views of Riga and its historic old town, further connecting the inside with the outside.

Material and Interior Design

The choice of concrete, white plaster, and wood combines to establish a consistent aesthetic throughout the building. These materials serve to highlight the organic shapes of the spaces while creating a rich backdrop for cultural engagement. The interior of the auditorium includes sound-absorbing panels, which improve the acoustic experience, showcasing a commitment to functionality and usability within the design.

These elements together create a space that functions as a cultural anchor and adds to the urban landscape of Riga, reflecting the city’s character through thoughtful design.

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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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