Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Perforated Concrete Facades and Natural Stone Cladding in a Family-Centric Residential Design

Authors:
LÊ Trung NguyỄn, Nguyen Nguyen Dac, NguyÊn Minh NguyỄn, ThỊ NgỌc QuỲnh NguyỄn
Perforated Concrete Facades and Natural Stone Cladding in a Family-Centric Residential Design

Project in-detail

Incorporating perforated concrete facades and natural stone cladding, the design creates a central courtyard that enhances ventilation and light, defining a family-centered space.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design incorporates a central courtyard that enhances natural ventilation throughout the spaces.
02
Perforated concrete facades provide both privacy and passive cooling in response to local climate conditions.
03
Natural stone cladding is used not only for aesthetics but also for its thermal mass properties.
04
Wooden louvers are strategically placed to control sunlight and reduce heat gain indoors.
05
The layout allows for future expansions, accommodating changing family needs over time.

### Overview
The Inner Peace House is designed to reflect contemporary Emirati living while honoring cultural heritage within an urban context in the UAE. The project integrates traditional architectural elements with modern materials, aiming for a balance between functionality, aesthetics, and sustainable practices.

### Spatial Organization
The layout features a central courtyard that facilitates ventilation and fosters connections among family members, both visually and spatially. The ground floor accommodates essential communal areas, including the kitchen, dining room, and family room, while private sleeping quarters are situated on the upper level. This strategic arrangement promotes a sense of community within the household while maintaining privacy for family members.

### Material Selection
Attention to materiality emphasizes both local context and performance. Reinforced concrete serves as the structural backbone, ensuring durability. Natural stone cladding enhances thermal mass and aesthetic appeal, while wooden louvers provide effective shading. The use of glass maximizes natural light and fosters a transparent relationship between indoor and outdoor environments. Additionally, perforated concrete blocks in the walls enhance airflow and contribute to the building's climatic adaptability, while also introducing visual variety.

The design also incorporates a flexible approach to future expansions, acknowledging the evolving needs of family structures and residential demands.

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