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Rammed Earth Walls and Mirrored Facades Enhancing Desert Living in Abu Dhabi Villa

Author:
Natacha Bouloukliev
Rammed Earth Walls and Mirrored Facades Enhancing Desert Living in Abu Dhabi Villa

Project in-detail

Utilizing rammed earth construction and reflective facades, the villa merges sustainable materials with local design traditions to create a functional family residence in the heart of Abu Dhabi's desert.
5 key facts about this project
01
Rammed earth walls provide natural thermal insulation, reducing energy needs.
02
Mirrored facades reflect the surrounding desert, blending the villa into its environment.
03
The design integrates a traditional Majlis for cultural gatherings and social interaction.
04
Palm wood flooring showcases local craftsmanship and sustainable material use.
05
Solar panels on the roof contribute to the villa's energy efficiency and sustainability.

## Project Overview

Located in Al Hiyar, Abu Dhabi, the villa integrates modern architectural aesthetics with sustainable design principles. Its single-story layout offers a contemporary interpretation of traditional Emirati living, promoting an open environment that fosters a strong connection to the surrounding desert landscape.

## Spatial Strategy

The villa's design is characterized by an open floor plan, which enhances spatial connectivity and facilitates natural interaction among the living, dining, and kitchen areas. Accessible single-story architecture prioritizes family usability, accommodating diverse living and entertaining scenarios. An emphasis on privacy is reflected in the arrangement of the bedrooms, ensuring intimate spaces are secluded from communal areas, thus catering to family dynamics while maintaining accessibility.

## Material and Sustainability

The villa employs innovative materials to enhance both aesthetic quality and ecological sustainability. Notable features include rammed earth walls that act as thermal mass, improving energy efficiency, and palm tree log flooring sourced from local flora, adding warmth and texture. Mirrored exterior walls reflect the surrounding desert, merging the structure with its environment while promoting energy conservation. Sustainable features continue with the installation of solar panels for renewable energy generation and oriented strand board (OSB) utilized for furniture, highlighting cost-effectiveness and durability. Enhanced thermal efficiency is achieved through thoughtful insulation and the strategic placement of large windows and skylights, maximizing natural light and ventilation, thereby minimizing reliance on artificial systems. The choice of locally sourced materials reduces transportation emissions and supports regional economies, contributing to the villa's low environmental impact.

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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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