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Rammed Earth Walls and Curved Façade Define a Sustainable Residential Retreat

Authors:
Mahriz Akhavan Zakeri, Charles Pascal Marie Bouyssou
Rammed Earth Walls and Curved Façade Define a Sustainable Residential Retreat

Project in-detail

With its rammed earth walls and elegantly curved façade, this sustainable residence integrates local materials and climate-responsive design to create a comfortable family living space in Dubai.
5 key facts about this project
01
Rammed earth walls provide high thermal mass, enhancing energy efficiency.
02
The façade features a dynamic curved design that optimizes natural light and airflow.
03
Extensive use of local materials supports sustainability and cultural relevance.
04
Cross-ventilation strategies maximize comfort in Dubai's hot climate.
05
Integrated solar panels contribute to the home’s renewable energy usage.

### Overview
Located in Dubai, the House of Zephyr is an architectural project that harmonizes contemporary design with cultural, climatic, and ecological factors inherent to the region. The intent behind the structure is to foster familial intimacy while responding appropriately to environmental conditions. The layout is crafted to prioritize privacy, outdoor living, and thoughtful engagement with the site’s natural features, fundamentally enhancing the user experience.

### Spatial Organization and Functionality
The spatial distribution within the house is designed to categorize areas into family spaces, guest accommodations, and service zones. Key elements include a double-height entrance hall that reflects cultural significance and a Majlis designed for communal activities, featuring large openings that connect to the outdoors. Living and dining areas are centrally located to maximize natural light and encourage interaction, while private quarters are strategically positioned to provide both privacy and access to external views. This meticulous organization fosters a sense of community while maintaining individual needs.

### Material Selection and Environmental Impact
The materials selected for the House of Zephyr emphasize sustainability and regional relevance. Compressed earth blocks and rammed earth structural walls are used to enhance thermal mass and aesthetics while minimizing the environmental impact. The building incorporates lightly reinforced concrete for structural support, alongside solar panels on the roof to promote renewable energy use. A dynamic façade treatment, characterized by curved design elements, enhances light and shadow play while facilitating natural ventilation through optimized building orientation. Overall, these design choices contribute to thermal efficiency and reduced reliance on mechanical systems, aligning with contemporary sustainability goals.

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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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