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Filtered Light Tower with Cold-Rolled Steel and Wood Integration

Authors:
Jia-zeng Lin, Yan-cheng Wang, Yun-feng Chen, Feng-chun Yen
Filtered Light Tower with Cold-Rolled Steel and Wood Integration

Project in-detail

Constructed with a light grid system and cold-rolled steel, the observation tower offers a unique vantage point to engage with wildlife while minimizing human visibility in its natural surroundings.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes a semi-helical pathway for enhanced privacy and movement.
02
Incorporates a unique grid system to filter incoming sunlight.
03
Designed specifically to accommodate unobstructed flight paths for flamingos.
04
Surface treatment with cold-rolled steel minimizes environmental impact.
05
Reduced height facilitates closer interactions with the surrounding landscape.

The design titled "Blurry Existence" is situated within a natural landscape, creating an observation tower that blends with its surroundings while providing minimal disruption to local wildlife. The overall concept focuses on concealment, emphasizing how the structure can hide human presence while also being discreet within the environment. Through careful design, the observation tower acts as a contemplative space for visitors and shows respect for the habitats of local animals, particularly flamingos.

Design Intent

The central theme of "Blurry Existence" questions traditional ideas of visibility in architecture. The observation tower features an opening that prevents direct sunlight from entering but allows soft, filtered light to pass through a grid system. This design reduces glare and creates interesting patterns of light and shadow inside. The tower's reduced height enhances these interactions, enabling birds to fly freely without obstructions from above, promoting ecological awareness.

Structural Composition

The tower consists of three layers, each serving a distinct purpose. The first layer provides the primary structural support, ensuring the tower is stable and secure. The second layer includes wood for the pavement and railings, allowing visitors to engage more closely with the space. The third layer contains a light grid system, which supports the structure and helps manage the light coming into the observation area.

Circulation and Privacy

A semi-helical pathway runs through the design, helping with movement while also providing privacy for users. This pathway is strategically placed to obscure direct lines of sight, creating more intimate spaces within the broader environment. This approach encourages visitors to connect with both the structure and the landscape, fostering a feeling of seclusion and tranquility.

Environmental Considerations

The underground construction for the central column reflects a dedication to lowering the project's ecological impact. This part of the design ensures structural strength while minimizing the tower's footprint on the land. The choice of materials supports this commitment; cold-rolled steel is utilized for its practicality and low environmental footprint, and the inclusion of wood elements adds a tactile warmth to the observational experience.

The grid system not only functions as structural support but also softly filters sunlight as it enters the space. As the day progresses, the changing patterns of light create a dynamic atmosphere, allowing visitors to experience the tower in different ways as they observe their 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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