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Natural Stone Surfaces and Decorative Screens Create a Harmonious Residential Retreat

Author:
Darya Gladysheva
Natural Stone Surfaces and Decorative Screens Create a Harmonious Residential Retreat

Project in-detail

Utilizing natural stone surfaces and ornamental screens, the residence achieves a cohesive blend of cultural heritage and modern living, resulting in a space that prioritizes sustainability and communal engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes decorative screens for privacy while allowing natural airflow.
02
Incorporates an internal garden that enhances biodiversity and cooling.
03
Features reinforced concrete for structural stability, paired with exposed finishes.
04
Emphasizes cultural motifs through geometric patterns in design elements.
05
Designed for flexible living spaces that adapt to various family needs.

### Overview

Located in a context that blends cultural heritage with modern living, "Domus" reflects a contemporary interpretation of traditional Arabic residential design. The intention behind this project is to create a harmonious living environment that champions both sustainability and adaptability. Central to this design is a sacred atrium, which serves as a focal point, facilitating interaction among various spaces while promoting natural ventilation.

### Spatial Organization and User Experience

The design features an innovative spatial configuration that balances communal living with personal privacy. The ground floor layout includes the sacred atrium, which connects diverse areas such as the kitchen, dining, and leisure spaces, optimizing movement throughout the home. The arrangement places private areas, including bedrooms, strategically around the atrium to ensure a peaceful atmosphere. The upper floor accommodates additional bedrooms and private quarters, oriented towards internal gardens or the atrium, further enhancing the sense of tranquility.

### Material Selection and Sustainability

A careful selection of materials underscores the project's commitment to sustainability while responding to its cultural context. Reinforced concrete serves as the primary structural material, providing durability, while exposed concrete elements contribute an industrial aesthetic that contrasts with the organic forms of the architecture. Glass is utilized extensively in windows and doors to facilitate natural light and create a visual connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Decorative screens along the atrium enhance airflow and privacy, and natural stone flooring offers a tactile contrast to the sleek surfaces. The material choices collectively support energy efficiency and the overarching design philosophy of adaptable living.

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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
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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Chair
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MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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