Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Natural Wood Integration With Courtyard Gardens and Sustainable Materials in Family Living Spaces

Authors:
Zeinab Maghdouri Khubnama, Mojtaba Nabavi, Somayeh Rezayi
Natural Wood Integration With Courtyard Gardens and Sustainable Materials in Family Living Spaces

Project in-detail

Utilizing modular construction techniques and a network of interconnected garden spaces, the design emphasizes sustainability through native plant landscapes and durable materials, creating adaptable family living environments.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes modular elements to allow for flexible living arrangements.
02
Integrates native plant gardens to enhance local biodiversity.
03
Incorporates passive cooling strategies for energy efficiency.
04
Employs charred wooden shingles for improved durability and aesthetics.
05
Features interconnected courtyards that promote community engagement.

### Overview

The Seven Gardens project is located in the United Arab Emirates and addresses the contemporary needs of Emirati living by merging modern architectural principles with traditional cultural values. The design emphasizes a balance between built and natural environments, showcasing the importance of gardens and courtyards as functional and visually appealing communal spaces.

### Spatial Interconnectivity

At the core of the design is the concept of layering and interconnectedness, reflecting the significance of community and family in Emirati culture. The plan features a series of courtyards that encourage social interaction while delineating private and public domains. These courtyards not only serve various functional roles but also promote a nurturing environment for growth and communal bonding. The central courtyard connects different modules of the house, offering a cohesive organizational framework that highlights both form and function.

### Material Selection and Sustainability

The architectural composition employs a mix of materials, each chosen to resonate with both durability and aesthetic harmony. Concrete forms the structural walls, ensuring longevity, while wood enhances warmth in window frames and decorative details. Brick cladding on the exterior promotes thermal efficiency, and expansive glass surfaces foster visual connections with the gardens. Natural stone is used extensively for flooring and wall treatments, establishing a tactile relationship with the environment. Carefully curated gardens incorporate native plants suited to the local climate, providing ecological benefits and promoting self-sufficiency.

In terms of sustainability, the project incorporates passive cooling techniques and water-efficient landscaping that respect the arid desert context. Modular design elements facilitate adaptability, allowing the living spaces to accommodate evolving family dynamics, thus aligning with local customs of multi-generational living. The gardens additionally serve practical functions, enabling residents to cultivate traditional herbs and vegetables, further emphasizing a commitment to environmental responsibility and cultural heritage.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
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
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy