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Living Walls and Natural Ventilation in a Community-Centric Timber Structure

Author:
DAVIDE CELLINI
Living Walls and Natural Ventilation in a Community-Centric Timber Structure

Project in-detail

Incorporating living walls and natural ventilation, this community-oriented timber structure enhances urban living through its focus on sustainability and social connection.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates living walls integrated into the building's ventilation system.
02
Utilizes charred wooden shingles for improved durability and fire resistance.
03
Designed with a central courtyard to enhance community interaction.
04
Features a bent A-frame structure to optimize natural light and airflow.
05
Employs cross-laminated timber panels for efficient construction and sustainability.

## Project Overview
Located in Krakow, Poland, the Oxygen Home serves as a community hub designed to foster environmental sustainability and social engagement. Developed as part of an architectural competition led by HMMD, the project emphasizes the integration of landscape and functional design to enhance urban living. The design embodies principles of organic architecture, aiming for harmony between built structures and their natural surroundings.

### Spatial Organization
The building features a central courtyard surrounded by various communal and functional spaces, promoting accessibility and interaction. The interconnected layout allows for both communal activities and areas designated for introspection, supporting a diverse range of uses. Ground-level amenities such as a library and playroom facilitate social interaction, while the upper floors host flexible workspaces, meeting rooms, and terraces, further encouraging collaborative and individual engagement.

### Material Selection
Material choices reflect a commitment to sustainability and connection to the environment. Extensive use of wood provides warmth and versatility, forming the primary material for the façade and interior surfaces. Glass is incorporated to maximize natural light and maintain visual links with the outdoors. Additionally, living walls and rooftop gardens enrich the aesthetics while improving air quality, reinforcing the project’s focus on ecological well-being. An innovative air purification system utilizes natural processes to enhance indoor air quality, further contributing to a healthy living environment.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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