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Passive Cooling with Wind Towers and Handmade Bricks for Sustainable Urban Living

Project in-detail

Incorporating wind towers and handmade bricks, this residential design leverages passive cooling strategies and sustainable materials to create an adaptable urban living space in Dubai.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates traditional wind towers for enhanced natural ventilation.
02
Features handmade bricks for local material authenticity.
03
Utilizes rainwater collection systems integrated into the landscape.
04
Design includes multi-functional communal spaces for resident interaction.
05
Employs passive solar orientation to optimize energy efficiency.

### Overview

The GAFT House project is situated in Dubai and focuses on sustainable living through an innovative architectural design that acknowledges the region's environmental and cultural context. The development integrates traditional design features with contemporary building methods, aiming to establish resilient urban solutions that address both climate challenges and community needs.

### Spatial Strategy and Community Engagement

The architectural layout emphasizes adaptability and social interaction, featuring expandable housing modules that cater to diverse family structures and sizes. Central atriums serve as multifunctional spaces that foster both environmental benefits and social connectivity, enhancing residents' overall quality of life. Additionally, dedicated gardening areas allow residents to cultivate their own food, promoting local biodiversity and contributing to food security within the community.

### Materiality and Sustainability Practices

The GAFT House prioritizes the use of locally sourced materials to minimize environmental impact. Key components include a mix of soil and cement for reduced carbon footprint, handmade bricks for flexible design, and pre-fabricated elements to enhance construction efficiency. To further support sustainability, designs incorporate effective water management systems and orientation strategies that utilize natural light and passive heating, significantly reducing reliance on artificial energy sources. Such features illustrate a comprehensive approach to building that unites ecological responsibility with cultural significance.

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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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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