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Floating Garden and Interactive Facade With Sustainable Wood Integration in a Community Hub

Authors:
Leonardo Zuccaro Marchi, Alina Lippiello
Floating Garden and Interactive Facade With Sustainable Wood Integration in a Community Hub

Project in-detail

An interactive facade of local art and a floating garden create a vibrant public hub in Kharkiv, emphasizing sustainability through the use of timber and engaging communal spaces.
5 key facts about this project
01
Interactive facade showcases local art and cultural narratives.
02
Floating Garden of Peace enhances biodiversity and educational opportunities.
03
Freedom Cores promote community engagement through distinct gathering spaces.
04
Flexible indoor areas adapt to varying community needs and events.
05
Sustainable materials, including charred shingles, support environmental resilience.

# Project Overview: The New Heart of Freedom, Kharkiv

Located in the urban landscape of Kharkiv, Ukraine, "The New Heart of Freedom" aims to redefine public space through innovative planning that promotes openness, connectivity, and community engagement. This design seeks to create environments that reflect the region's historical resilience while fostering social interaction and inclusivity. By reimagining various public areas as integral to the city's narrative, the project envisions a landscape that emphasizes community-focused amenities and recreational features, reinforcing the social fabric of Kharkiv.

### Spatial Strategy and Community Engagement

The design introduces multiple community hubs, termed Freedom Cores, each functioning as a focal point for interaction among residents. These spaces incorporate a floating fountain, playgrounds, and gardens, enhancing the social experience while ensuring accessibility. The Floating Garden of Peace serves as a symbolic representation of environmental diversity and awareness, embodying regional landscapes and fostering educational opportunities. Additionally, the integration of public art, with dynamic facades on the Freedom Building displaying local cultural expressions, transforms the structure into a living canvas that resonates with the community's identity.

### Material Selection and Environmental Considerations

A key aspect of the design is the intentional choice of materials that balance sustainability with functionality. Concrete provides structural strength, while glass in the Freedom Building's facade maximizes natural light, promoting energy efficiency. Steel reinforces structural integrity, and wood introduces warmth and organic textures throughout public furniture and landscapes. Native plantings and bioswales are incorporated to enhance biodiversity and support local ecosystems, aligning with the project's commitment to environmental stewardship. The integration of green spaces, water-efficient systems, and resilient design elements reflects a proactive approach to addressing current and future environmental challenges.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
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MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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Kinderspace
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