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Healing Spaces Crafted with Charred Wooden Shingles and Natural Light in Healthcare Design

Authors:
Penny Eleftheriou, Dimitra Papafilippou, Dimitra Papafilippou
Healing Spaces Crafted with Charred Wooden Shingles and Natural Light in Healthcare Design

Project in-detail

Crafted with charred wooden shingles and designed to maximize natural light, this healthcare facility fosters recovery and community interaction through its flexible spaces and patient-centric layout.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes charred wooden shingles for enhanced durability and visual texture.
02
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels for efficient structural support and sustainability.
03
Features a bent A-frame design that optimizes natural light and ventilation.
04
Includes flexible space configurations to promote patient interaction and community engagement.
05
Integrates landscaped pathways that connect the facility with its surrounding environment.

### Overview

Located in Kraków, Poland, the Oxygen Home project embodies a design philosophy focused on creating supportive and healing environments within the healthcare sector. By integrating natural elements and emphasizing human interaction, the facility aims to foster well-being among patients, families, and visitors. This approach seeks to redefine the traditional healthcare experience, making it more welcoming and accessible.

### Spatial Organization

The layout of the Oxygen Home promotes fluidity and connectivity between various spaces, enhancing functionality while maintaining a focus on patient experience. A central pathway, termed the "Spine," serves as the main thoroughfare, linking different areas of the facility and the surrounding park. This design encourages pedestrian movement and aims to facilitate emotional healing through close proximity to nature. Additional pathways, designated as the "Ribbon," weave through the landscape and serve to enhance social interactions among visitors, while the "Nucleus" acts as a communal hub where patients and families can gather for support and activities.

### Material Selection

Materiality plays a vital role in achieving the project's vision. Wood is prominently utilized in structural elements and facades, offering warmth and a calming aesthetic. Glass features prominently throughout the design, maximizing natural light and affording views of green spaces to enhance the patient experience. Metal elements introduce a contemporary contrast to the predominantly organic materials, while durable stone and paving materials are used for outdoor areas, ensuring longevity and seamless integration with the landscape. This thoughtful selection of materials contributes to a harmonious environment that promotes comfort and serenity.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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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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