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Living Walls and Natural Stone in a Sustainable Desert Dwelling

Authors:
Noor Nabil Ahmed Al-baser, Azzhra'a Al-nunu, Jumana Almassoudi, Hadil Mohammed Ahmed Al-kuhali, Walid Ibrahim Ahmed Jaafar, Abrar Ali
Living Walls and Natural Stone in a Sustainable Desert Dwelling

Project in-detail

Integrating living walls with natural stone, this sustainable dwelling adapts to the desert climate while fostering community interaction in a thoughtfully designed residential space.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates living walls that enhance insulation and air quality.
02
Utilizes natural stone sourced locally to reduce environmental impact.
03
Features an innovative irrigation system designed for desert sustainability.
04
Integrates multiple roof gardens to expand usable outdoor space.
05
Prioritizes communal courtyard areas to foster social interaction.

## Concept Overview
This project presents a modern villa that draws inspiration from the historical Hanging Gardens of Babylon, renowned as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The design seeks to integrate natural elements with sustainable architectural practices, carefully addressing the challenges posed by a desert climate. By incorporating aesthetic and ecological principles from ancient Mesopotamian architecture, the project aims to foster a symbiotic relationship between the built environment and nature.

## Spatial Integration
The villa emphasizes extensive greenery through living walls and courtyards, promoting biodiversity and ecological balance. Centralized protected squares are designed as communal gathering spaces, enhancing social interaction while providing refuge from the sun. Multiple roof terraces create additional outdoor areas, offering valuable green space while affording views of the surrounding landscape. Water features, such as pools and fountains, not only serve as visual focal points but also play a critical role in regulating the microclimate, ensuring comfort in warmer temperatures.

## Material Selection
The choice of materials reflects a commitment to sustainability while enhancing the overall aesthetic of the villa. Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) is utilized for façade elements due to its durability and low maintenance requirements. Clay, a natural and versatile building material, contributes to temperature regulation and humidity control. Natural stone is selected for its strength and local availability, providing a unique character to the design while minimizing environmental impact. Each material supports the project's goals of ecological harmony and resilience.

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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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