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Limestone and Glass Wellness Facility Emphasizing Communal Living in a Natural Landscape

Author:
Martin Szumilas
Limestone and Glass Wellness Facility Emphasizing Communal Living in a Natural Landscape

Project in-detail

Constructed with a combination of limestone and extensive glass facades, the facility integrates sustainable features and accessible communal spaces to serve as a wellness center for the elderly within a thoughtfully designed landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with a unique combination of limestone and glass for optimal natural lighting.
02
Features inclusive communal spaces designed to promote social interaction among residents.
03
Incorporates green roofs for improved thermal regulation and rainwater management.
04
Utilizes reinforced concrete structure for durability while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
05
Designed with accessibility as a core principle, ensuring ease of movement throughout the facility.

## Project Overview
The elderly home in Barreira is designed to meet the needs of senior residents while facilitating community interaction. The facility’s design prioritizes accessibility and communal living, making it a notable addition to the field of eldercare architecture. The structure integrates thoughtfully with the surrounding landscape, emphasizing both functionality and aesthetic harmony.

## Architectural Form and Materiality
The building's design exemplifies a modern aesthetic characterized by clean lines and a predominantly white-rendered façade that enhances its openness. This geometric simplicity is enriched by strategically placed balconies and terraces, which create additional outdoor spaces for residents. The material selection reflects a commitment to comfort and stability, incorporating reinforced concrete for structural integrity, limestone for warmth in interior spaces, and glass to maximize natural light and views. Wood is used in furnishing and decking, while tiles in common areas provide both practicality and visual appeal.

## Layout and Sustainability
The interior layout focuses on creating both functional and comfortable environments. It includes private rooms adaptable for nursing care, along with communal areas such as dining rooms, therapy spaces, and recreational rooms that foster socialization. Public facilities including a chapel and service areas reinforce the community aspect of the residence. Sustainability is prioritized through features such as a heat pump system for energy efficiency and landscaped roofs that manage rainwater while offering thermal insulation. The integration of natural light and vistas into common areas further supports a connection to the exterior environment, enhancing overall resident well-being.

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

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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
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