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Elevated Views Through Slender Steel Columns and Glass Balustrades

Authors:
Misak Terzibasiyan, Leila Haase, Emily O'brien, Valeria Pavia
Elevated Views Through Slender Steel Columns and Glass Balustrades

Project in-detail

With its slender steel columns and transparent glass balustrades, the observation tower offers elevated viewpoints that engage visitors with the wetlands, promoting accessibility and immersion in the natural landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
The tower includes five distinct viewing points, each oriented for unique perspectives of the wetlands.
02
Slender columns create a rhythmic pattern that reflects the elegance of local flamingo populations.
03
A wheelchair-accessible ramp allows gradual ascent, enhancing visitor engagement with the environment.
04
The structure's glass balustrades ensure safety while providing unobstructed views of the surroundings.
05
The design integrates with a boardwalk, promoting exploration through the wetland reserve.

The Flamingo Observation Tower is located in the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, a habitat known for its diverse wildlife and beautiful landscapes. The structure is designed to offer visitors an elevated view of the wetlands, blending functionality with an appealing design. The concept focuses on creating a connection with the natural environment, encouraging visitors to appreciate the unique surroundings.

Structural Design
The tower consists of slender columns that support a gently sloping ramp. This design allows for a smooth ascent, ensuring that all visitors can access the viewpoints. As they move upwards, users can engage with the landscape from different heights. The tower includes five viewing points, each providing distinct perspectives of the wetland’s plants and animals.

Material Considerations
The main material used in the construction is steel, which gives the columns strength while keeping the overall structure light in appearance. This choice allows the tower to blend in more naturally with its environment. Glass balustrades are also present, providing safety without obstructing the views, allowing visitors to look out over the wetlands safely.

Environmental Integration
The design carefully considers the tower's surroundings. The arrangement of the columns creates patterns of light and shadow that reflect the natural elegance of flamingos, reinforcing the connection between the tower and the wetland ecosystem. The connecting boardwalk links the tower to the reserve, guiding visitors on a journey through the area and encouraging exploration.

Visual Experience
As individuals ascend the ramp, they encounter various scenes of the wetland. The changing light creates a lively atmosphere that enhances the experience. Visitors can observe the beauty of the surroundings from a new vantage point, deepening their appreciation for the natural environment. This interplay of structure and landscape fosters a strong relationship between the observation tower and the wetlands.

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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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