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Rammed Earth Walls and Elevated Living Spaces in a Flexible Family Home

Author:
Jay Prakash Ruparelia
Rammed Earth Walls and Elevated Living Spaces in a Flexible Family Home

Project in-detail

Constructed with rammed earth walls and incorporating a central courtyard, this family home emphasizes privacy and sustainability while offering adaptable living spaces for modern Emirati lifestyles.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using locally sourced rammed earth for thermal efficiency and cultural relevance.
02
Features a central courtyard that enhances natural ventilation and fosters family interaction.
03
Incorporates modular design, allowing for future expansions without compromising structural integrity.
04
Utilizes traditional mashrabiya for shading, privacy, and airflow control.
05
Elevated ground floor maximizes outdoor space usability and minimizes flooding risks.

## Project Overview
Located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the House of the Future aims to redefine the Emirati home by integrating sustainable design principles with contemporary living requirements. The intent is to create a residential environment that resonates with cultural values while accommodating the evolving lifestyles of Emirati families amidst globalization.

## Spatial Organization
The design employs a zoning strategy to establish distinct boundaries between public and private spaces, reflecting Emirati traditions and ensuring family privacy. The layout separates living areas from service zones, facilitating interaction in communal spaces while allowing for individual retreat. The inclusion of a courtyard is central to this organizational strategy, providing shade, enhancing natural ventilation, and serving as a multifunctional space for social interaction. This courtyard design also addresses climatic challenges by offering a cooling microclimate and opportunities for plant cultivation.

### Modular Adaptability
The project features a modular design system that allows for flexibility and customization of spaces according to changing family dynamics. This approach supports cost-effective expansions without compromising essential functions. The elevated ground floor design further maximizes utility, creating additional usable space beneath and clarifying the division between public and private areas.

## Material Selection
Material choices reflect a balance of tradition and innovation in contemporary Emirati architecture. Rammed earth is utilized for its sustainability and energy efficiency, while a concrete framework ensures structural integrity and aesthetic versatility. Strategic use of glazing allows natural light into interior spaces while maintaining privacy, complemented by wooden elements that provide warmth and texture. The incorporation of mashrabiya offers shading and promotes airflow, contributing to both comfort and facade complexity.

## Sustainability Features
Sustainability is integral to the design, incorporating passive and active environmental strategies. The courtyard and mashrabiya enhance natural ventilation, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling systems. The landscape design includes provisions for gardens, beekeeping, and tree planting, fostering biodiversity within the urban environment. The overall design minimizes energy consumption, promoting an environmentally responsible approach to modern living.

## Configurable Design Solutions
The modular nature of the House of the Future allows for adaptable floor plans that can respond to future needs, whether through expanded dimensions or personalization. Each configuration balances living space requirements with functional characteristics, ensuring long-term relevance as family dynamics evolve. Detailed budget projections outline the financial viability of the project, which includes allocated costs for key materials such as rammed earth and concrete structures.

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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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