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Mycelium Insulation and Birch Structure Creating a Sustainable Community Hub

Authors:
Teun Strikkers, Stijn Riemen, Alexander Akkermans
Mycelium Insulation and Birch Structure Creating a Sustainable Community Hub

Project in-detail

Utilizing mycelium insulation and a structure primarily crafted from birch wood, the design serves as a multifunctional community hub that prioritizes sustainability and local engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes mycelium for insulation, promoting waste reduction.
02
Features a year-round greenhouse for local food production.
03
Incorporates a rooftop playground to support child engagement.
04
Includes a repair café for sustainable practices and community workshops.
05
Designed with large community rooms to facilitate social interaction.

Mývatn Birki is located in the scenic Mývatn region, focusing on creating a community that promotes sustainability and interaction among its members. The design idea revolves around incorporating various spaces that encourage sharing, collaboration, and education. At the heart of the building is a greenhouse, which serves a dual purpose as both a nursery for trees and a place for growing food throughout the year. This element highlights the project's commitment to ecological practices.

Community Facilities
The first floor features large, multifunctional community rooms that cater to different activities, such as meetings, workshops, and social events. These spaces are designed to encourage residents to interact with one another and to welcome both locals and visitors, especially through an exhibition area that displays local art and sustainable initiatives. Additionally, a designated children’s room and a rooftop playground create an inviting environment for families, further enhancing the community aspect.

Sustainability Practices
On the ground floor, the layout supports sustainability through a spacious storage area and a workshop. This space is intended for the repair and upcycling of furniture and other items, emphasizing a hands-on approach to resource management. Organic waste is collected and composted, with some returned to the greenhouse, promoting a system that uses local resources effectively. The design places a strong emphasis on accessibility, ensuring that everyone in the community can engage with the available facilities.

Material Choices
Materials used in Mývatn Birki support its sustainability goals. Birch wood serves as a principal structural element, promoting a renewable approach to construction. Aluminum frames are added for strength, and they can be recycled, aligning well with the building's commitment to a circular economy. Mycelium provides insulation, utilizing organic waste and contributing to thermal efficiency in the space.

The overall design creates a functional hub that encourages engagement and knowledge sharing within the community. Natural light plays an essential role, with the greenhouse strategically designed to maximize sunlight exposure, creating a bright and welcoming environment conducive to growth and community interaction. The thoughtful layout and consideration of materials enhance the overall experience for users, instilling a sense of belonging and responsibility for the 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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