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Exposed Concrete Panels with Acoustic Tiles Supporting Community Engagement

Authors:
Marina Antoniou, Sebastian Klose, Paul Kenneth Darling
Exposed Concrete Panels with Acoustic Tiles Supporting Community Engagement

Project in-detail

Exposed concrete panels create a visually engaging privacy screen while acoustic tiles enhance sound insulation in a multifunctional space designed to promote community interaction.
5 key facts about this project
01
Exposed concrete panels serve as both structural elements and visual privacy screens.
02
Removable lifting points enhance accessibility throughout the space.
03
Custom acoustic tiles are integrated for improved sound quality.
04
Acrylic layers facilitate natural light while maintaining thermal control.
05
Wood frame inserts conceal electrical components for a clean aesthetic.

The design emerges in an urban environment focused on sustainability and innovation through the reuse of materials. Located in Berlin, it incorporates concrete panels from buildings that are no longer in use. This approach tackles environmental issues and reflects the city's cultural identity, particularly its connection to techno music. The overall concept highlights practicality, accessibility, and a relationship with the surroundings.

Material Reuse

Using concrete panels from decommissioned buildings shows the potential of material reuse in modern architecture. Sustainability is a priority, and the design captures this while creating a unique look that harmonizes with its setting. Removable lifting points function as handles for doors, making it easier for users to interact with the space.

Structural Integrity

The framework is strong, with steel panels connected through welded joints to a steel base plate. This method ensures stability while integrating various architectural features. Acoustic concerns are also addressed through recessed LED strips placed within sound insulation panels. This combination of lighting and sound management creates an inviting atmosphere. The female connections are finished with a rubber coating to minimize vibrations.

User-Centric Design

Accessibility is a major consideration in the design. The layout is planned to accommodate wheelchair users, enabling smooth navigation throughout the space. A wood frame counter makes use of existing walls, enhancing functionality. Electrical components are carefully hidden within a wood frame insert, keeping the interiors organized and tidy. These details enhance the user experience by providing a functional and cohesive environment.

Acoustic and Visual Dynamics

Sound insulation plays a critical role in this design, accomplished by using custom ceramic tiles that offer both aesthetic and acoustic benefits. Acrylic layers serve as protective barriers separating inside from outside while inviting light into the interiors. The exposed structural steel from the concrete panels also adds a layer of privacy. It helps tell the story of reused materials, merging form and practical function in a straightforward way.

Overall, the design illustrates the relationship between architecture and its urban context, creating a space that is about both the users and their environment. Thoughtful details and material choices reflect a deep understanding of local context, producing areas that engage users on multiple levels. This blend of function, accessibility, and sustainability establishes a strong presence within its lively surroundings.

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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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