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Frosted Acrylic Lantern with Recycled Aluminium Booth for Urban Engagement

Authors:
Giancarlo Genovese, Laura Leo
Frosted Acrylic Lantern with Recycled Aluminium Booth for Urban Engagement

Project in-detail

A luminous cap of frosted acrylic crowns a recycled aluminium booth that actively invites community interaction as a hub for social engagement in the urban landscape of Berlin.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design includes a thermal and sound-insulating layer between inner and outer skins.
02
The booth's exterior evolves through user-generated graffiti and stickers.
03
Ballast tanks provide stability and facilitate easy relocation of the booth.
04
Vertical LED RGB strips enhance user experience by synchronizing with music.
05
The frosted acrylic cap serves as both a daylight source and a night-time lantern.

The design presents a booth that takes inspiration from the shapes of the Heizkraftwerk Berlin Mitte. Located in Berlin, the booth serves as a functional piece of urban furniture and a cultural reference point, especially linked to the city's techno music scene, including the famous Tresor club. The overall design aims to blend with its surroundings and encourage users to engage with it while expressing themselves.

Materiality

The exterior is covered with a recycled aluminium corrugated sheet. This choice reflects a commitment to sustainability while fitting with the industrial look of the urban environment. The lack of a finish allows the surface to change over time, inviting community members to add their marks through stickers and graffiti. This evolving appearance offers a tangible connection to the life of the city.

Structural Design

Inside the booth, a layer of thermal and sound insulation separates the outer skin from the inner one, which is also made of aluminium. The smooth, curved surface of the inner skin features small holes near the speakers, which improves sound distribution. This design choice serves both functional and aesthetic purposes, enriching the atmosphere while enhancing listening experiences.

Functional Components

Four compartments are located at the base of the booth beneath a removable footboard. These compartments hold ballast tanks that can be filled with water for added stability or emptied for easier movement. Additionally, these sections include technology that supports lighting, Bluetooth connections, and a locking system. This integration of features allows the booth to function well in various environments.

Design Features

The cap of the booth resembles a chimney and is made from frosted acrylic glass. This material allows natural light to enter while also creating a soft glow during the night. The design enhances visibility in public spaces, encouraging users to interact with the booth as it shifts from day to night. The result is a space that fosters gatherings and social interactions.

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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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