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Light Manipulation Through Sliding Polycarbonate Panels for Community Reading Spaces

Author:
Drew Doyle
Light Manipulation Through Sliding Polycarbonate Panels for Community Reading Spaces

Project in-detail

Sliding polycarbonate panels create a flexible reading environment that emphasizes light control and user engagement, serving as a community hub for literature exchange.
5 key facts about this project
01
Transparent outer polycarbonate layer enhances natural light and visibility.
02
Sliding panels allow users to customize light levels based on reading genres.
03
Interior includes a community-focused book exchange box for sharing literature.
04
The semi-circular frame design promotes seamless user interaction and movement.
05
Unique configuration encourages a meaningful transition from public to private reading spaces.

The Sensory Slider is an innovative space designed to enhance the reading experience within a lively urban setting. It offers readers a place that combines literature with architectural design, focusing on how light influences one’s interaction with books. The concept revolves around creating a semi-private reading room that invites both individuals and the community to explore the act of reading in a new way.

Materiality

The structure is built using a specific selection of materials that serve both practical and aesthetic functions. The outer layer is made from transparent polycarbonate, which offers protection from the weather while allowing natural light to flow in. This choice enables a connection with the surrounding environment. The middle layer features semi-opaque polycarbonate, providing some degree of privacy without completely blocking light, thus creating a friendly atmosphere. The inner layer consists of opaque panels that effectively block sunlight, giving users control over the lighting as they read.

Spatial Organization

The design is thoughtfully laid out around semi-circular frames that hold the sliding panels. This arrangement encourages interaction, allowing users to adjust their environment depending on the type of literature they are engaging with. The layout promotes a smooth transition from public areas into quieter spaces, making the movement from outside to inside feel more natural. In this way, the sliding panels are more than just barriers; they are dynamic features that enrich the user’s experience.

Community Integration

A notable aspect of the Sensory Slider is the Book Exchange Box, which serves as a focal point for the community. This feature encourages the sharing of books and promotes social connections between users. By fostering collaboration, it transforms the reading space into a lively cultural hub. The Book Exchange Box provides opportunities for conversations and discussions about various literary works, highlighting the value of shared experiences in reading.

The entry sequence is designed to create a natural flow from the outside world into the reading area. This transition enhances navigation and prepares readers for a change in atmosphere as they dive into their books. As they engage with the sliding panels, users take an active role in shaping their environment. Each visit to the Sensory Slider becomes a personal journey, tailored to individual preferences and reading choices.

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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

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
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