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Elevated Transparency Through Extensive Glazing and Steel Formwork in Compact Residential Design

Authors:
Paweł Stanisław Białas, Kamil Piotr Bryłka
Elevated Transparency Through Extensive Glazing and Steel Formwork in Compact Residential Design

Project in-detail

Utilizing extensive glazing and a steel framework, this compact residential design elevates its footprint within a post-industrial landscape while maximizing natural light and spatial adaptability for modern living.
5 key facts about this project
01
Extensive use of glazing enhances natural light and connectivity to the outdoors.
02
Steel framework allows for an open-plan layout without structural interruptions.
03
Mobile storage solutions maximize space utility within the compact design.
04
Special pile foundations enable adaptability to diverse terrain conditions.
05
Integrated rainwater collection systems support sustainable living practices.
The MICRObouse bigHOME project is a residential architectural design that reinterprets urban living in the context of a post-industrial site. The project emphasizes sustainability, efficiency, and adaptability, integrating with its surroundings while offering a modern living experience. The design promotes a compact and functional layout, addressing the contemporary demand for streamlined living spaces that are both practical and environmentally conscious.

Innovative Spatial Solutions
The project employs a geometric form characterized by clean lines, ensuring efficiency in space utilization. The extensive use of glazing on the southern façade enhances natural light penetration and the connection with the outdoor environment, promoting an indoor-outdoor dynamic. The interior layout is designed for flexibility, featuring mobile storage solutions that allow for various functional arrangements. This adaptability serves well in modern residential living, where the demands for space can change based on usage patterns.

Materials Selection and Sustainable Practices
The choice of materials is central to the project's design ethos. The use of large glass panels allows for significant daylight and external views while contributing to passive solar heating. The structural integrity is provided by steel, which supports an open-plan arrangement without compromising structural stability. In addition, advanced insulation panels ensure thermal efficiency, minimizing energy consumption. The implementation of special pile foundations enables the structure to adapt to diverse terrain, further highlighting the project's commitment to site responsiveness.

Unique Design Approaches
A notable feature of the MICRObouse bigHOME is its focus on eco-friendly technologies. Integrating systems such as rainwater collection and energy recovery ventilation aligns with current best practices in sustainable architecture. This project seeks not only to provide shelter but also to minimize ecological footprints, demonstrating how architecture can contribute positively to both individual lifestyles and the environment. By achieving a balance between form, function, and sustainability, this design exemplifies contemporary architectural ideas that prioritize environmental stewardship alongside aesthetic and practical considerations.

For further exploration of the architectural plans, sections, and designs that underpin this project, readers are encouraged to review the complete project presentation. Gaining insights into the detailed architectural ideas will provide a deeper understanding of how this design integrates with both its urban context and the principles of sustainable living.
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100,000€ Prize / 2025

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

Competition organisers

The 10th edition of the MICROHOME architecture competition invites architects and designers from around the world to explore the possibilities of compact, sustainable living. Hosted by Buildner in collaboration with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this special edition challenges participants to design an off-grid, modular microhome for a young professional couple, with a maximum floor area of 25 m². Designs should prioritize innovation, efficiency, and real-world feasibility. 

A total prize fund of 100,000 € will be awarded, including three main prizes, the Kingspan Award, and the Hapi Homes Award, which will grant 15,000 € and lead to the construction of the selected design. The final registration deadline is September 25, 2025, and winners will be announced on Decebmer 9, 2025. For full competition details and submission guidelines, visit microhome.info.

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
Early bird registration deadline 22 May 2025
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