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Harmonizing Solitude and Community Within Secluded Spaces

Author:
Collin Carder
Harmonizing Solitude and Community Within Secluded Spaces

Project in-detail

Combining the warmth of The Hearth with the tranquility of The Hut, the design creates a balanced environment that fosters both community interaction and individual solitude for its users.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design includes a central gathering place called The Hearth, encouraging community engagement.
02
The Hut provides a secluded area for personal reflection, balancing social and private needs.
03
A showcasing Viewing Mechanism connects users to the surrounding landscape, enhancing interaction with nature.
04
The Ramp promotes accessibility throughout the space, ensuring ease of movement between zones.
05
Distinct architectural features prioritize user experience, creating a dynamic yet functional environment.

ZOETROPE is an architectural design that focuses on combining communal and private spaces within a thoughtfully organized environment. The project is aimed at encouraging social interaction while also providing areas for quiet reflection. The design centers around The Hearth, a place for gathering, and The Hut, which offers solitude. This balance creates a space that caters to a variety of user needs.

The Hearth
The Hearth serves as a central gathering point, designed to facilitate social connections. It is an inviting space where people can come together to share experiences and form community bonds. The warmth of The Hearth is crafted to encourage occupants to engage with one another. Its location within the overall layout emphasizes its role in fostering interaction among users.

The Hut
In contrast to The Hearth, The Hut provides a more intimate space for personal contemplation. This area is intended as a retreat from the communal activities, offering privacy for quiet moments or reflection. The design of The Hut reflects the project's understanding of the need for solitude, balancing interaction with personal space.

The Ramp
An important element in the layout, The Ramp allows for easy movement through the various spaces. It connects areas without obstruction, making it simple for users to navigate between the communal and individual zones. This careful design ensures that everyone can engage with the different parts of the environment comfortably.

Viewing Mechanism
The Viewing Mechanism introduces an additional dimension to the design by enhancing the connection between users and the surrounding environment. This feature encourages interaction with both the interior spaces and the outside landscape. It adds to the experience of the design, inviting users to become engaged with their surroundings in a meaningful way.

The arrangement of spaces within ZOETROPE creates a diverse environment that responds to both community and personal needs. The careful placement of The Hearth, The Hut, and The Ramp highlights a thoughtful approach to user interaction. As light and space interact throughout the design, they enrich the overall experience for those who inhabit it.

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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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