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Natural Light and Earth Columns in a Restorative Home Environment

Author:
Darrick Wade
Natural Light and Earth Columns in a Restorative Home Environment

Project in-detail

Incorporating earth columns and expansive sloped glazing, the design fosters a seamless interplay between natural light and the indoor-outdoor environment, creating a restorative living space that prioritizes comfort and functionality.
5 key facts about this project
01
Circulation zone enhances user navigation with a clear pathway organization.
02
Built-in niches streamline storage and maintain a tidy appearance in the Utility area.
03
Mint Fragrant Garden offers a sensory experience that connects users with nature.
04
Natural light is maximized through strategic sloped glazing, enhancing thermal comfort.
05
Earth columns provide visual rhythm and ensure safety with rounded edges.

The design is situated in a suburban area, where it focuses on enhancing daily living through thoughtful organization and user experience. The main idea is to create a structure that helps people navigate their environment easily. By prioritizing orientation in space and time, the design supports a clear connection between the indoors and outdoors, facilitating a comfortable and functional living space.

Circulation Zone

The Circulation zone acts as the backbone of the design, serving as the primary pathway that links various areas of the home. It is laid out to promote easy movement from one space to another. This arrangement helps users understand their surroundings better, making the experience of moving through the building straightforward and practical.

Utility Zone

To the right of the entrance, the Utility area is arranged to assist with everyday tasks. Built-in niches provide organized spaces for commonly used items, limiting the need for bulky cabinets. This design choice makes the area more efficient and keeps the space looking tidy. It addresses the practical requirements of daily life without being overwhelming or distracting.

Restorative Zone

On the left side of the entry, the Restorative zone is designed for comfort and relaxation. It encourages interaction with the outdoor environment, supported by large sliding doors that connect the indoor and outdoor spaces. The Mint Fragrant Garden enhances the sensory experience, inviting users to enjoy moments of calm. This zone is a place for both personal retreat and social engagement.

Light and Materials

Natural light is a significant feature throughout the design. In the Circulation zone, sloped glazing allows sunlight to fill the space, creating warmth and brightness. This feature also helps regulate temperature, making the environment more inviting. Framed wood flooring provides a visual link between inside and outside. Rubberized flooring in the kitchen is practical for frequent use, and leather bands around door handles add a touch of texture while maintaining a clean look.

The rhythm of circular earth columns is another important aspect. These columns not only enhance the visual appeal of the Circulation zone but also ensure safety with their rounded edges. All these elements work together to create a practical and visually cohesive 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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