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Palm Trunk Housing Modules Foster Community in a Sustainable Oasis

Authors:
Omar Galal, Mahmoud Amgad, Mostafa Hazem, Ola Maged
Palm Trunk Housing Modules Foster Community in a Sustainable Oasis

Project in-detail

Constructed from locally sourced palm trunks, the housing modules offer a sustainable solution for community living in a Saharan oasis, promoting both individuality and cultural continuity.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using locally sourced palm trunks to promote sustainability.
02
Housing modules allow for individual customization while fostering community.
03
Design integrates traditional Arab urban layouts with modern functionality.
04
Passive strategies are employed to enhance comfort in arid desert conditions.
05
The project includes essential public buildings to support community cohesion.

In the arid landscape of Egypt, a project seeks to connect urban and rural environments through a sustainable and culturally sensitive approach. Set in a Saharan oasis, the design integrates modular housing to support a community while respecting the local heritage. The focus is on creating spaces that enhance social interaction and environmental sensitivity.

Reimagining Vernacular Architecture

The goal is to rethink the vernacular architecture common in rural areas, which make up about 95% of Egypt’s territory. By combining local building techniques with modern principles of sustainability, the design prioritizes affordability and ecological concerns. The project encourages a community-driven strategy that adapts urban design elements to meet the needs of rural living.

Sustainable Community Development

A main aspect involves relocating the community to the oasis, where essential public buildings such as mosques, schools, and community centers will be constructed first. These structures will provide temporary homes for residents during the transition. Over time, the cultivation and harvesting of palm trees will play a critical role, contributing raw materials for construction while enhancing the local ecosystem.

Modular Housing Solutions

The housing is designed with a modular approach that allows families to personalize their living spaces. This flexibility promotes participation in the development, encouraging residents to take ownership of their new homes. The clusters of houses reflect traditional Arab urban layouts, featuring narrow streets and shaded pathways that support community interaction.

Passive Design Strategies

To address the challenges of the desert climate, the design incorporates thoughtful passive strategies aimed at increasing comfort. The layout of the street network maximizes shade and minimizes sun exposure. Deep pathways and gallery cross-sections protect pedestrians from the heat, creating cool spaces that encourage outdoor activities. The use of stacked palm trunks for constructing homes highlights a connection to traditional methods while adapting to contemporary needs.

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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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