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Elevated Community Spaces With Modular Glass and Concrete Design

Authors:
Nick Andrezejewsky, Jasmin Händschel
Elevated Community Spaces With Modular Glass and Concrete Design

Project in-detail

Utilizing a modular octagonal design paired with a combination of glass and concrete, the structure maximizes urban space while fostering community through thoughtfully designed residential units.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes an octagonal layout to optimize space and encourage natural light.
02
Incorporates modular stacking to adapt to varying urban densities.
03
Features a facade with extensive glass elements for panoramic views.
04
Combines concrete and aluminum for structural integrity and minimal maintenance.
05
Includes landscaped communal areas to enhance resident wellbeing and social interaction.

### Project Overview

Located in an urban setting, the Octagon Tower embodies modern architectural principles through its innovative octagonal form. This design enhances functional capacity by facilitating vertical stacking, a critical feature for maximizing land use in densely populated areas. The intent is to create adaptable residential solutions that respond to varying urban landscapes and density requirements.

### Spatial Configuration and Modularity

The Octagon Tower utilizes a modular approach, allowing for five distinct blocks to be stacked vertically, with each block containing six floors. This configuration not only promotes unity within the structure but also caters to diverse functional needs across different urban environments. The inherent design encourages vertical expansion, optimizing limited land resources while creating an efficient living framework.

### Material Formulation and Sustainability

The building predominantly employs concrete for structural integrity, ensuring durability and facilitating height. Glass is used extensively in the facade to maximize natural light, enhancing the living experience and offering expansive views. Aluminum accents provide a lightweight, maintenance-friendly option for detailing and window framing. Together, these materials support sustainability objectives by contributing to energy-efficient design and reducing the overall carbon footprint of the structure.

### Design and Community Integration

The distinctive octagonal shape is reflected in both the silhouette and architectural details, with systematically placed windows that foster light penetration and exterior views. Surrounding the tower, landscaped areas with greenspaces, walking paths, and trees integrate the building with its natural environment, promoting resident well-being and outdoor engagement. The floor plans are carefully organized to balance community interaction with privacy, featuring various configurations that align with the building's octagonal layout while incorporating communal spaces to encourage socialization.

The modular and stackable design sets the Octagon Tower apart, providing flexibility to address site-specific demands and zoning requirements, all while contrasting with the surrounding cuboidal structures to create a dynamic urban presence.

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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
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