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Natural Light and White Glass in a Community-Focused Educational Renovation

Author:
Jing Wong
Natural Light and White Glass in a Community-Focused Educational Renovation

Project in-detail

The use of white glass and a preserved historical facade enhances natural light flow throughout the renovated community-focused school, promoting connectivity and engagement within its educational spaces.
5 key facts about this project
01
Preservation of the east staircase maintains historical character.
02
Integration of white glass enhances natural light throughout the building.
03
Artist workshop connects directly to the exhibition hall, fostering collaboration.
04
Community spaces are strategically located to maximize interaction and engagement.
05
Use of Low-E glass contributes to energy efficiency and thermal comfort.

The renovation of Omuli Primary School is an effort to revitalize an existing historical building while adapting it for modern educational purposes. Located in an area rich with context, the project aims to maintain the character of the original structure while introducing new features that enhance functionality. The design concept focuses on preservation and improvement, ensuring the school serves its community effectively.

Preservation of Historical Elements
The renovation carefully retains the original building's key features, including the exterior facade, east staircase, and indoor chimneys. This focus on preservation connects the past with the present, allowing the school to keep its historical significance while adapting to new needs. By maintaining these elements, the project honors the architectural heritage of the region.

Modern Spatial Configuration
The layout enhances connectivity and interaction within the school. The design incorporates the concept of "slices," which improves lighting and ventilation throughout the interior. Public spaces are placed primarily in the southern part of the building to maximize natural light. This thoughtful arrangement creates a welcoming environment that establishes a strong link between the interior and the surrounding landscape.

Material Selection
Specific materials have been chosen to optimize the building's performance. The renovation includes 6 mm white glass spacers and Low-E glass, which work together to control heat and light levels. Additionally, the integration of 9 mm argon gas within the glazing system helps improve insulation. These material choices support energy efficiency and the overall sustainability of the school environment.

Artistic Integration and Community Engagement
The design encourages community interaction through various interconnected spaces, including the artist workshop and Omuli Museum. These areas foster collaboration and creativity, making the building a hub for artistic expression. Architectural sections highlight how these spaces interact, enhancing movement throughout the different levels of the school.

The interplay of light within the renovated spaces creates a dynamic atmosphere that encourages users to engage with both the historical and new aspects of the design.

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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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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