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Kinetic Glass Façade Integrating Community Market with Sustainable Urban Connectivity

Author:
Fabrizio Vignettes beristain
Kinetic Glass Façade Integrating Community Market with Sustainable Urban Connectivity

Project in-detail

A kinetic glass façade interacts with solar patterns while incorporating diverse community spaces, fostering connectivity and engagement in a bustling urban environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Kinetic elements of the façade adjust to solar patterns for enhanced energy efficiency.
02
The building integrates a market at the subway exit, promoting community interaction.
03
Elevated lobby space simplifies access to underground bus hangars and offices.
04
Landscaping is incorporated into vertical and horizontal surfaces for environmental integration.
05
The design references Pre-Hispanic geometric forms through its layered panel structure.

The high-rise building in Texcoco is a response to the reconfiguration of Mexico City’s international airport. Located near the Eastern Passenger Bus Terminal, the design aims to celebrate the rich architectural history of Pre-Hispanic Mexico. Its overall concept intertwines historical elements with modern functionality to create a structure that serves both transitional and community needs.

Design Concept
The design focuses on key architectural elements such as open-close, up-under, exterior-interior, scale, and proportion. These principles give the building its form, echoing the geometric patterns seen in Pre-Hispanic pyramids. The arrangement of panels and slopes not only pays tribute to historical architecture but also fosters a sense of connectivity among existing and new urban elements.

Site Context
Positioned strategically near TAPO, the building enhances the bustling transit hub. A market is integrated at the perimeter of the subway exit, encouraging interactions among tourists and locals. There are two main access points that lead visitors to a lobby that rises seven meters above ground. This upward movement creates a welcoming feeling while also accommodating below-ground spaces for bus hangars and TAPO's offices.

Materiality and Structure
Key materials include glass, which forms the façade, and a self-supporting framework. The use of glass allows natural light to flood the interior, encouraging an open atmosphere. The façade acts as a filter for sunlight, improving energy efficiency while maintaining visual engagement with the surroundings.

Kinetic Design Elements
Kinetic features respond to solar patterns, enhancing both the building's environmental performance and its visual dynamics. Landscaping is intentionally integrated throughout the design, promoting a connection to nature amid the urban setting. Pathways are designed for easy navigation, linking public areas to vertical circulation with the aim of improving safety and user experience.

In such a project, the combination of cultural reference and practical design emerges clearly in the thoughtful details. Each aspect is chosen to support both the architectural narrative and the diverse needs of the users, creating a functional yet meaningful space.

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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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