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Gradient Spaces with Self-Sorting Personal Desks and Communal Connectivity

Author:
Benjamin Rowe
Gradient Spaces with Self-Sorting Personal Desks and Communal Connectivity

Project in-detail

The design features a gradient of privacy with self-sorting personal desks that connect seamlessly to communal corridors, optimizing focus and collaboration within a modern workspace.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design incorporates self-sorting zones to enhance user functionality.
02
Communal corridors are strategically aligned for increased visibility and interaction.
03
Personal desks are positioned to maintain focus while offering connections to community spaces.
04
A gradient of privacy is integrated into the layout, accommodating varying work styles.
05
The architecture promotes fluid movement, encouraging a natural flow between different work areas.

The design features a careful arrangement of spaces that responds to the evolving needs of modern work environments. Situated in an urban setting, it branches into smaller, focus-driven areas that provide varying degrees of privacy. This layout encourages both concentrated work and collaborative interaction, allowing users to choose the type of environment that best suits their tasks.

Conceptual Framework

The architecture creates a distinct relationship between personal workspaces and communal areas. Each section of the design has a defined purpose, enabling users to select where to work based on their current needs. This self-sorting mechanism enhances productivity by providing options for solitude or engagement, depending on the preferences of the individual.

Spatial Arrangement

A key feature is the personal desk, which occupies the innermost area of the layout. Its position fosters a working environment that is intimate yet visually connected to wider communal corridors. This strategy reflects the significance of personal focus while maintaining a link to a larger community, striking a balance between individual and collective experiences.

Privacy and Collaboration

The design places significant emphasis on the relationship between privacy and collaboration. Thoughtful zoning separates quiet spaces from those intended for interaction. This balance addresses the demands of contemporary workplaces, allowing users the freedom to move between focused and social environments according to their requirements.

Floor Plan Detail

The overall layout encourages easy movement through the space, guiding users intuitively. Architectural features frame distinct zones while maintaining a sense of openness. This approach enhances functionality and contributes to a coherent aesthetic. It creates an inviting atmosphere that encourages exploration and fosters positive interactions among users.

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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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