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Glulam Timber Framework With Community Terraces Integrated Into Urban Living

Author:
John Ng
Glulam Timber Framework With Community Terraces Integrated Into Urban Living

Project in-detail

With a framework of glulam timber and expansive communal terraces, the design integrates uniform living spaces that foster community interaction within an urban residential environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Glulam timber framework enhances structural efficiency and aesthetic quality.
02
Wide communal terraces promote social engagement among residents.
03
Uniform room sizes facilitate personalized living arrangements.
04
Integrated climbing plants enhance the connection between nature and architecture.
05
Sustainable energy features support environmental responsibility and efficiency.

The project 10000 Rooms is located on the site of the former Earl's Court Exhibition Centre in London. It reimagines standard living spaces to promote flexibility and adaptability in urban environments. With an emphasis on community, the design integrates wide terraces that encourage social interaction while allowing for personal privacy within each housing unit.

Design Concept

Uniform room sizes are at the heart of 10000 Rooms. Each unit features rooms measuring 4.5m x 4.5m, eliminating typical distinctions between living areas and bedrooms. This approach fosters personalization, enabling residents to adapt their spaces according to individual needs. By removing traditional hierarchies in spatial layout, it empowers varied uses of space, aligning with the changing lifestyles of today’s city dwellers.

Spatial Organization

The building comprises eight housing units on every floor, offering communal terraces that extend private living areas. These terraces serve as spaces for residents to come together, supporting community engagement and socializing. The design encourages a continuous relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces, enhancing openness and a sense of belonging. The layout draws from the character of the Dunboyne Road Estate, where wide terraces lead to shared garden areas, reinforcing the idea of communal living.

Materiality

Materials play a significant role in the building’s structure and appearance. Structural Insulated Panels (SIP) are used for walls and floors, ensuring efficiency in energy use while providing solid support. Glulam timber columns are incorporated to strengthen the framework and add natural warmth to the design. A steel wire net is integrated for climbing plants, improving the connection between the building and its green surroundings.

Environmental Considerations

Sustainability is a primary focus of 10000 Rooms, featuring solar panels on the roof for energy generation. Gardens and landscape elements are included to enhance biodiversity within the urban setting. This commitment to environmental responsibility improves life for residents and encourages a relationship with nature, creating balance with the surrounding city.

The design promotes extensive outdoor spaces, with terraces thoughtfully placed to facilitate interaction among residents. This balance allows for a sense of community while maintaining the privacy necessary for individual units.

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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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