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Rainwater-Collecting Home With Rotating Bamboo Walls and Natural Integration

Authors:
Salvatore Digrandi, Ambra Tumino, Eloisa Mazza, Renata Iacono
Rainwater-Collecting Home With Rotating Bamboo Walls and Natural Integration

Project in-detail

Located in the Sicilian countryside, a home integrates rotating bamboo walls and a rainwater collection system to create a flexible living space that harmonizes with its rural environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Central column serves as a structural and functional hub.
02
Rotating walls adjust living spaces based on user needs.
03
Rainwater is collected for irrigation and domestic use.
04
Vegetation on the facade enhances thermal comfort and insulation.
05
Integrated furnishings maximize space efficiency and functionality.

Red.point is located in the Sicilian countryside near Ragusa, Italy. The design is influenced by the surrounding landscape, which includes wheat fields, olive trees, and traditional stone walls built without mortar. The intention is to create a calm atmosphere that allows for relaxation, positioned away from the noise of city life. It integrates well with the local environment while emphasizing flexibility and sustainability in its design.

Main Concept and Adaptability

The main idea behind Red.point is changeability. This concept enables the interior and exterior spaces to be adjusted based on different needs and environmental conditions. Rotating and sliding walls play a crucial role in this adaptability, allowing for immediate changes to the building's shape and function. A central column acts as the key structural element. It contains necessary wiring and features blinds that can separate areas such as the bathroom and bedroom.

Spatial Efficiency and Integration

Efficiency in space usage is a priority in the design. Furnishings are built into the flooring to minimize clutter and enhance usability. Two tables can be moved up and down thanks to telescopic legs, while the bed is accessed through a sliding panel that also hides storage spaces. The fixed wall contains the bathroom, kitchen, and storage, with hinged doors that provide flexibility in how the living area is used.

Sustainability Initiatives

Red.point aims to minimize its environmental impact through various sustainable practices. A rainwater collection system is included to reuse water for domestic hygiene, toilets, and irrigation. This approach highlights effective resource management. Additionally, two small pools are integrated into the layout to enhance passive cooling, improving indoor comfort while supporting efficient water handling.

Interaction with the Environment

The project creatively incorporates plants for energy generation. By using organic materials from roots, the design can produce electricity. There is also a dedicated area for phytodepuration, which helps to reduce water waste. Vegetation on the building's facade provides thermal insulation and supports a vegetable garden for local food production. The roof features raised bamboo canes that encourage natural airflow and help regulate temperature.

An open floor plan allows for various spatial configurations. The eastern and southern facades can rotate to create outdoor spaces, while the green wall on the southern facade and the rotating stone wall on the western facade enhance the bedroom's connection to nature.

Ultimately, the building's thoughtful design fosters a strong relationship between the architectural form and the surrounding landscape, encouraging residents to engage meaningfully with their environment.

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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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