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Natural Light and Green Spaces Enhance Community Connectivity

Author:
Hsin yi Chiu
Natural Light and Green Spaces Enhance Community Connectivity

Project in-detail

Emphasizing green spaces and the thoughtful use of natural light, the design fosters community connectivity while serving as a multifunctional gathering space.
5 key facts about this project
01
Natural light is maximized through strategically placed openings in the bent A-frame design.
02
Green spaces are integrated throughout the site, promoting biodiversity and ecological health.
03
Cross-laminated timber panels are used to enhance structural efficiency and sustainability.
04
Charred wooden shingles provide weather resistance while adding a unique visual texture.
05
The layout facilitates easy movement and interaction, fostering community engagement.

The design presents a thoughtful integration of built environments with a surrounding natural landscape. Set in an area rich with greenery, it emphasizes ecological sustainability and functionality, creating a space that serves various purposes. The concept focuses on the connection between the structure and its environment, fostering a user-friendly experience through careful planning.

Site Planning

The site layout is designed to create a strong relationship between the structure and its surroundings. Green spaces are distributed throughout, enhancing biodiversity and improving air quality. Trees are strategically positioned to provide shade and visual interest while walkways are clearly marked, allowing for easy movement and promoting interaction among users.

Elevation Design

In the elevation drawings, contemporary architectural elements are highlighted, showing how the structure blends with landscaped areas. The upper elevation integrates these natural features to maintain a cohesive look. The lower elevation places emphasis on greenery and the careful selection of materials, allowing the design to connect deeply with its ecological setting.

Interior and Cross-Sections

Cross-section views illustrate the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces. Natural light plays a key role in enhancing the interior atmosphere. This connection improves the sense of comfort, inviting users to engage with both the structure and the environment around it. The interiors prioritize functionality while maintaining a modern appeal that works for various activities.

Visual Connections

Additional sketches of the elevations provide multiple perspectives of the structure, reinforcing its connection with the surrounding landscape. Outdoor spaces link directly to the building, highlighting the intention to create a sense of unity. The manipulation of light and shadow across the facade adds visual depth, encouraging exploration and interaction with the natural features of the site.

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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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