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Honeycomb Vent Bricks and Sustainable AAC Blocks Define a Climate-Responsive Residence

Honeycomb Vent Bricks and Sustainable AAC Blocks Define a Climate-Responsive Residence
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Crafted with honeycomb vent bricks and AAC blocks, this residence offers optimal thermal comfort and ventilation, serving as a functional family home in a challenging climate.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using honeycomb vent bricks that enhance passive cooling.
02
Utilizes AAC blocks for lightweight thermal insulation and energy efficiency.
03
Incorporates courtyards to promote cross ventilation and reduce heat.
04
Features a traditional *almajlis* space that reflects local cultural values.
05
Designed to harmonize with the challenging climate while maintaining comfort.

### Project Overview
The Honey Comb House is located in the Middle East, designed to respond effectively to the region's challenging climate while prioritizing sustainability and functionality. This residential dwelling integrates local materials that reflect cultural identity and employs passive environmental strategies to enhance thermal comfort and energy efficiency.

### Spatial Arrangement and Functional Zoning
The layout of the Honey Comb House is organized into three distinct zones to optimize privacy and utility:

- **Guest Zone**: Comprised of an *almajlis*, office, pantry, and washroom, this area caters to hospitality needs.

- **Family Zone**: Serving as the core of domestic life, this central space includes living areas, a pool, dining room, and bedrooms to facilitate family interactions.

- **Service Zone**: This functional component houses the kitchen, laundry, maid's room, driver’s room, and storage, ensuring efficient household operations.

The design incorporates transitional courtyards between these zones, enhancing airflow and reducing heat transfer through strategically placed wind tunnels that promote cross-ventilation, thereby decreasing the need for mechanical cooling.

### Materials and Environmental Considerations
The Honey Comb House utilizes locally sourced materials known for their sustainability attributes and thermal performance. Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks form the primary wall structure, providing high thermal insulation and energy efficiency due to their lightweight nature.

Local clay vent bricks, designed in a honeycomb pattern, offer aesthetic appeal while facilitating ventilation. Additional thermal insulation enhances the building's energy efficiency, contributing to a comfortable indoor climate. The integration of honeycomb vent blocks serves to promote passive cooling by allowing airflow while minimizing direct sunlight exposure, aligning the design with the climatic conditions of the region.

The project further incorporates large openings and glass elements to create visual connections to outdoor spaces, fostering an indoor-outdoor living experience. Shallow reflective water features contribute to both the aesthetic value and functional cooling of the interior spaces.

The overall interior design emphasizes fluidity and openness, utilizing natural materials, colors, and textures to cultivate a warm and inviting atmosphere while ensuring practical usability and a modern aesthetic that honors local cultural elements.

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The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

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Competition organisers

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

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

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025

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