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Rammed Earth Walls and Community Workshops in a Topographically Designed Space

Authors:
Christian david Madrigal garcía, Gabriel alejandro Ruíz suárez
Rammed Earth Walls and Community Workshops in a Topographically Designed Space

Project in-detail

Rammed earth walls define a space shaped by topographical changes, fostering community engagement through multipurpose areas and dedicated workshops.
5 key facts about this project
01
Rammed earth walls contribute to natural insulation and thermal mass.
02
Topographical variations create distinct views and privacy within the site.
03
Multipurpose areas adapt to various community activities and events.
04
Workshops designed for skill development foster creativity and collaboration.
05
Zen meeting space encourages mindfulness and reflection among users.

The design explores the theme of transcendence, focusing on spaces that promote personal reflection and interaction among community members. Located within a carefully shaped landscape, the spaces are intended to foster connections between individuals and their surroundings. The plan emphasizes simplicity and purpose, addressing the everyday needs of the people who will inhabit these environments while enhancing their living experience.

Spatial Organization

The layout includes distinct areas that serve specific functions, encouraging community engagement. Key components feature multipurpose spaces allowing for various activities, which support dynamic interactions among users. A special Zen meeting space offers a peaceful environment for contemplation and discussion. Workshops designed for skills development provide opportunities for creativity, further enriching community involvement.

Materiality and Sustainability

A unique aspect of the design involves changes in topography, creating levels that guide views and offer privacy. The earth moved during construction is reused as rammed earth walls. This practice showcases a commitment to sustainable design by reducing waste and connecting the buildings to the natural landscape. The result is an environment that feels cohesive with its setting and retains a strong sense of place.

Design Strategies

The architectural approach revolves around four central ideas: achieving immanence, achieving archaic, achieving transcendence, and achieving dynamics. Immanence is reflected in spaces that allow for self-connection and contemplation. The archaic aspect emphasizes essential living, fostering deep relationships without unnecessary details. Forms are crafted to communicate the community's values, ensuring that important stories can be passed down through generations. Dynamic spaces adapt to changing needs, allowing them to grow with the community over time.

Final Design Detail

Communal kitchens and dining areas create welcoming spaces where shared meals strengthen ties among residents. These thoughtfully designed places encourage interaction and social bonding, contributing to a warm and collaborative atmosphere. This focus on community and connection reflects a deeper understanding of how spaces can enhance daily life and build lasting relationships.

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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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