Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Light-Filled Reading Space Crafted with Wood and Tensile Fabric

Authors:
Christianna Bennett, Tricia Huang, Jonah Fields
Light-Filled Reading Space Crafted with Wood and Tensile Fabric

Project in-detail

Constructed with a wooden framework and shaded by tensile fabric, this light-filled reading space offers a unique environment where community members can engage with literature while enjoying both privacy and connection.
5 key facts about this project
01
Light diffuses through curtains, creating an ethereal atmosphere inside the reading space.
02
LED light cubes serve as both furniture and illumination, enhancing functionality.
03
The grid framework allows for intimate voids that promote privacy within a communal setting.
04
Tensile fabric provides shelter while maintaining a connection to the outdoors.
05
The design encourages interaction and solitude, seamlessly blending both experiences.

The Lightbox project presents a reading space designed to foster community engagement and individual reflection. Located in an accessible area, it encourages users to immerse themselves in literature. The design aims to create a unique environment where the usual boundaries between inside and outside are softened, allowing people to connect with their surroundings as they read.

Structure and Layout

The design features a grid-based framework, which provides a clear structural organization while allowing open flow between different areas. This layout is meant to create intimate pockets within a larger communal space. Users can find solitude or engage with others, balancing personal quiet time with opportunities for social interaction.

Lighting Design

Lighting is central to the experience within the reading room. The framework is open at the top, facilitating the entry of natural light, while curtains help diffuse it. This combination creates a soft, pleasant atmosphere throughout the space. At night, LED light cubes illuminate the interior, offering warm light that enhances the reading experience and draws visitors towards the structure.

Materiality and Aesthetic

The materials used in the design primarily include a wooden framework. This choice not only provides structural support but also adds warmth to the environment. Tensile fabric is employed to offer privacy and shelter from the elements. White curtain fabric allows light penetration, contributing to the overall gentle ambiance. The integration of LED light cubes along with a concrete base highlights functionality while maintaining coherence in the design’s appearance.

The design culminates in the welcoming glow of the LED light cubes, which establish individual reading areas bathed in warm light. This careful consideration of detail creates an inviting atmosphere that encourages users to engage with literature in a contemplative and comfortable setting.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

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

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy