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Pollution-Reducing Facade with Titanium Dioxide and Green Roof Integration

Authors:
Joanna Ziembowska, Natalia Kulesza, Agata Kobus, Filip Starzomski
Pollution-Reducing Facade with Titanium Dioxide and Green Roof Integration

Project in-detail

Utilizing a facade with titanium dioxide for air purification and incorporating a green roof, the design addresses urban pollution while providing sustainable residential space.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes titanium dioxide in the facade for active air purification.
02
Incorporates a green roof to enhance urban biodiversity.
03
Designed to reduce urban smog while providing residential space.
04
Located near traditional prefabricated housing for contextual relevance.
05
Features precast concrete for enhanced structural efficiency.

The project “Healthy Big Panel” focuses on addressing urban air pollution in Poland. Located near typical prefabricated housing, it reinterprets these structures to fit a modern approach to environmental issues. The design meshes historical forms with contemporary ideas, aiming to improve urban living while tackling important ecological challenges.

Design Concept

The core idea behind “Healthy Big Panel” merges modern sustainability with traditional architecture. By taking inspiration from the Soviet-era prefabricated systems, the design offers a residential solution that acknowledges both past influences and current necessities. This approach situates the project within its social and economic environment, serving as a practical living space that responds to the urgent need for better air quality.

Materials and Sustainability

Precast concrete is used as the main structural material, providing strength and facilitating construction. The facade features titanium dioxide, which helps purify the air. Through photocatalytic reactions, this material breaks down nitrogen oxides and other harmful pollutants. This duality of function enhances the building's durability while ensuring it plays an active role in reducing urban smog.

Green Infrastructure

The green roof is a notable element of the design, contributing to biodiversity and managing stormwater effectively. By incorporating nature into the urban setting, it helps improve the overall environmental quality of the area. The presence of the green roof highlights the project's dedication to fostering a healthier living environment while recognizing the complexities of urban ecosystems.

Energy Efficiency

The design also includes a skylight equipped with photovoltaic glass. This feature generates energy on-site, making the building more self-sufficient. By supporting renewable energy use, it aligns with current architectural trends focused on reducing ecological impact. The energy produced contributes to the building's functionality, enhancing the overall experience for those who live there.

The building's facade, enhanced by titanium dioxide, offers an aesthetic quality while engaging with its environment. It illustrates a thoughtful blend of form and function, highlighting the potential of architecture to address significant urban and environmental issues.

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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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