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Historic Brick Villas Blending Nature and Community Dynamics

Authors:
Anton Zheleznov, Mykyta Rutskyi, Ivan Seleshok
Historic Brick Villas Blending Nature and Community Dynamics

Project in-detail

Integrating historic bricks with perforated patio walls, the design fosters a connection between private and communal spaces, creating a sustainable environment for living and gathering in Spello.
5 key facts about this project
01
Reused historic bricks create a tangible link to the area’s architectural heritage.
02
Patio walls feature perforations that blur boundaries between inside and outside.
03
Villas are organized in a linear arrangement to enhance community interaction.
04
Minimal openings control heat management for occupant comfort.
05
Construction minimizes modern concrete use for reduced CO2 emissions.

The design, located on the outskirts of Spello, features a set of villas and a tasting room, creating a blend of residential living and shared community space. The project focuses on several important themes, emphasizing the relationship between people and nature, the connection of landscape with architecture, the reinterpretation of local geology, and the reuse of existing materials.

Design Concept

The villas take inspiration from traditional Italian homes, showcasing a straightforward construction style. Each villa is organized in a linear manner, with spaces centered around a patio. This layout encourages interaction among residents while ensuring private areas remain distinct yet connected to the natural surroundings.

Materials and Sustainability

A key aspect of the project is the plan to dismantle existing structures on the site in order to recover bricks for new building work. This method maintains a link to the area’s history and supports sustainable practices by reusing materials. New bricks from local suppliers are used alongside historic bricks, which are integrated thoughtfully into the construction to reflect local geology.

Spatial Organization

In the design, the number of openings has been carefully considered to control how each villa manages heat. Fewer openings help to prevent overheating in warmer months. The consistent use of brick walls simplifies construction technology, allowing traditional techniques to be revived, which also helps provide jobs for local craftsmen.

Public and Private Connectivity

The design encourages a smooth connection between the private villas and public spaces. Brick flooring continues from the villas into shared outdoor areas, creating a unified environment that promotes community interaction. This design choice makes it easy to move between personal and communal spaces, aligning with the overall focus on sustainability.

A notable feature of the villas is the patio walls with their perforations. These openings not only improve ventilation but also create a visual link between inside and outside, helping to soften the boundaries between private and common areas.

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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

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