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Natural Light and Wood Spirals Creating Community Engagement

Authors:
Giuseppe Vultaggio, Weiwei Mao
Natural Light and Wood Spirals Creating Community Engagement

Project in-detail

A large circular skylight illuminates the central community space, which is organized around two distinct wood spirals, fostering interaction and wellness through various events and activities.
5 key facts about this project
01
The building features two distinct spirals that define its spatial organization.
02
The central area is illuminated by a large circular skylight allowing natural light to flood in.
03
The design incorporates two entrances for improved accessibility and flow.
04
The color palette is inspired by the surrounding landscape, enhancing visual harmony.
05
Wood is the primary material, emphasizing sustainability in construction.

The Spirala Community House is located in a lively area that promotes social interaction and collaboration among its users. Designed as a versatile space, it brings people together for various activities, including celebrations, workshops, and wellness practices such as yoga and meditation. The overall design focuses on creating an inviting atmosphere that encourages community involvement.

Design Concept

A key element of the building’s design is the use of two spirals with different sizes. These spirals organize the internal spaces and help guide movement throughout the structure. This configuration supports the flow of people as they move from one area to another, making the building easy to navigate and accessible for everyone. The design puts user experience at the forefront, contributing to a welcoming environment.

Spatial Organization

Two entrances lead into the community house, connecting the outside world with the central space. One entrance provides direct access to service areas, enhancing the building's functionality. The thoughtful placement of these entrances improves the flow of movement, making it easy for visitors to enter and engage with the space from the moment they arrive.

Natural Light and Materiality

Natural light plays an important role in shaping the experience within the building. The central area features a large circular opening in the roof that includes prefabricated skylights. This allows sunlight to pour in, creating a bright and pleasant environment. Wood is the primary material used in construction, reflecting a focus on environmentally friendly design and sustainability.

Visual Connection to Landscape

The color scheme of the Spirala Community House draws inspiration from the surrounding landscape, using shades of green and yellow that harmonize with nature, along with various blues that evoke the sky and water. This careful choice of colors enhances the building’s visual appeal and strengthens its connection to the environment, creating a cohesive experience for the users.

Light filters gently through the circular opening in the central space, casting dynamic patterns that shift throughout the day, adding a layer of interest and warmth to the community atmosphere.

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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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