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A Hillside Residence in Timber Designed to Promote Active Aging in Portugal

Authors:
Dara Edrei Zilli García, Regina Mestre Vargas
A Hillside Residence in Timber Designed to Promote Active Aging in Portugal
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The design responds to the evolving needs of aging populations by promoting independence, social engagement, and environmental responsibility within a supportive living environment. Positioned along a hillside, the development prioritizes a harmonious relationship between built form, nature, and community.
5 key facts about this project
01
Designed for elderly residents, fostering independence and engagement.
02
Multiple levels with ground-floor common areas as social hubs.
03
Gardens for personal cultivation promote ownership and connection.
04
Circular economy principles guide material selection and durability.
05
Gentle gradients and clear pathways ensure safe navigation.

Set on a hillside, Vida na Colina is designed as a residential environment that integrates nature with daily life for elderly residents. The project prioritizes social interaction, wellness, and accessibility, creating a nurturing community where architecture and landscape work together to support independence and engagement.

Spatial Organization and Community Life

The layout spans multiple levels, with ground-floor common areas serving as social hubs for dining, workshops, and recreational activities. These shared spaces encourage interaction and lifelong learning, while outdoor terraces and gardens offer opportunities for physical activity and moments of reflection. Gardens dedicated to personal cultivation allow residents to grow their own produce, fostering a sense of ownership and a direct connection to the environment.

Material Strategy and Environmental Systems

The project follows circular economy principles, selecting materials for durability, performance, and environmental responsibility. Wood provides warmth and tactile comfort, steel ensures structural integrity, and concrete offers longevity, while glass maximizes daylight and frames hillside views. Green roofs enhance thermal performance and promote biodiversity, transforming the residence into a small-scale ecological system.

Accessibility and Landscape Integration

Circulation is designed with elderly residents in mind, using clear pathways, gentle gradients, and tactile cues to ensure safe and intuitive navigation. The integration of outdoor spaces with the architecture supports both social and independent activity, creating a living environment that is environmentally responsible, community-focused, and deeply connected to its hillside context.

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Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
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Chair
The Architect's Chair
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100,000€ Prize / 2025

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

Open architecture competitions

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    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
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    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge

AIA (American Institute of Architects) invites you to design affordable housing in Denver

Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 2025

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MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

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Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

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