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Kinetic Facades and Natural Ventilation in Sustainable Residential Design

Author:
Shady Mahmoud Fahmy Hassan Abdelraheem
Kinetic Facades and Natural Ventilation in Sustainable Residential Design

Project in-detail

Dynamic kinetic facades enhance natural ventilation while integrating sustainable materials such as concrete and glass to create an environmentally responsive residence.
5 key facts about this project
01
Adaptive kinetic facades adjust to sunlight for optimal comfort and energy efficiency.
02
Integrated solar panels provide renewable energy, reducing reliance on traditional power sources.
03
Natural ventilation systems enhance indoor air quality while minimizing energy consumption.
04
Cavity walls enhance thermal insulation, supporting climate resilience in a desert environment.
05
Flexible spatial organization allows for varied configurations based on specific land plots.

### Project Overview
The House of the Future is located in Dubai, UAE, and addresses contemporary living requirements while prioritizing sustainability and adaptability within the region's distinct climatic and cultural framework. The design merges modern aesthetics with cutting-edge technologies to create a residential environment that is both luxurious and environmentally conscious.

### Spatial Strategy and Organization
The design employs a 3D zoning approach for spatial organization, effectively distributing living, dining, and private areas while optimizing service integration, such as kitchens and bathrooms. Vertical circulation is enhanced through strategically positioned staircases, promoting fluid movement between levels while maintaining a compact footprint that allows for ample outdoor space. The layout adapts to varied land plots, offering flexibility in design that accommodates standalone villas, twin villas, and townhouses.

### Material Selection and Energy Efficiency
Materiality is pivotal to the project's integrity, with a focus on durability and energy efficiency. Concrete serves as the primary structural element, providing both strength and thermal mass. Extensive use of glass facilitates natural daylight and creates transparency between indoor and outdoor environments, while wood is incorporated in finishes, contributing warmth to the overall aesthetic. Advanced features such as kinetic handrails and vertical louvers enhance natural ventilation and sunlight regulation, reducing reliance on artificial cooling systems. Additionally, cavity walls improve insulation, maintaining cooler indoor temperatures during the summer months.

Sustainability measures include the installation of solar panels for harnessing renewable energy, daylight sensors that optimize internal lighting, and adaptive kinetic facades that improve energy efficiency and occupant well-being. The design strategically addresses the desert climate through careful orientation, minimizing heat gain, and incorporating shading devices that enhance thermal comfort indoors.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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