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Natural Stone Facades With Timber Accents Shape Sustainable Community Living

Authors:
Francisca maría Ariza crespo, Salvador López serrano, José maría Calzado álvarez de lara
Natural Stone Facades With Timber Accents Shape Sustainable Community Living

Project in-detail

Incorporating natural stone facades and timber accents, this residential design fosters a seamless integration with the surrounding landscape while providing essential communal and private living spaces.
5 key facts about this project
01
Natural stone facades are designed to blend seamlessly with the local landscape.
02
Cross-laminated timber panels enhance structural integrity while reducing environmental impact.
03
Charred wooden shingles provide a unique aesthetic and improve durability against weathering.
04
Internal courtyards offer private outdoor spaces for residents, promoting well-being.
05
The bent A-frame design enhances natural light and ventilation throughout the living areas.

### Architectural Report: Residential Design Project in Portugal

#### Overview

Located in the tranquil countryside of Portugal, this residential development is conceived to integrate with the natural landscape while promoting sustainable living and community engagement. The design emphasizes a holistic relationship between the built environment and its context, acknowledging the site's topography and the cultural heritage of traditional Portuguese architecture. Through careful spatial arrangements, the project creates a fluid interaction between various living spaces while maintaining distinct areas for privacy and communal activities.

#### Spatial Strategy

The layout consists of a series of interconnected structures that facilitate both individual and shared experiences. Upper levels are designated for living spaces with expansive views of the landscape, while the lower levels provide more intimate environments conducive to relaxation and social gathering. Key functional areas include an entrance, multi-purpose rooms, communal spaces, and a variety of bedroom configurations, ensuring a balance between personal retreat and community connection.

#### Materiality and Sustainability

The selection of materials reflects both local characteristics and environmental considerations. Reinforced concrete forms the structural backbone, ensuring durability, while natural stone is employed for exterior finishes, facilitating integration with the terrain. Timber elements introduce warmth to interior spaces, and large glass features enhance natural light and visual continuity with the outdoors. Clay tiles, traditional to the region, provide thermal efficiency and contribute to the aesthetic cohesion with vernacular architecture. Notably, sustainable design principles are evident through passive solar strategies and the use of materials that minimize environmental impact, underscoring a commitment to ecological responsibility.

The overall design approach fosters a sense of place that harmonizes with the surroundings, ensuring the development not only functions effectively but also enhances the quality of life for its residents.

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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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