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Red and Black Steel Structure for Reflective Meditation

Authors:
Shichuang Xu, Jiapan Sun, Zujian Liu
Red and Black Steel Structure for Reflective Meditation

Project in-detail

The combination of a black steel exterior and vibrant red interior creates a focused environment for meditation, allowing occupants to disconnect from distractions and engage in quiet reflection.
5 key facts about this project
01
Designed for a meditative experience, promoting deep reflection.
02
Exterior clad in a black steel skin to enhance isolation.
03
Interior spaces are predominantly filled with vibrant red.
04
Geometric shape allows for versatile placement in various environments.
05
Construction utilizes red and black steel plates for durability and aesthetics.

The Red and the Black TIN HOUSE is a designed space that emphasizes quiet reflection and meditation. It is placed in a peaceful environment, encouraging occupants to step away from daily distractions. The design focuses on the contrast between the outer and inner spaces to enhance the experience of introspection.

Form and Aesthetics

The tin house features a regular geometric shape covered in black. This choice provides a stark appearance, creating a sense of enclosure. The simple geometry allows the structure to fit into various settings, making it adaptable for different locations while still maintaining its identity.

Interiors and Color Palette

Inside, vibrant red fills the main areas and the stairs. This color choice is purposeful, engaging occupants and promoting emotional responses. The red interior offers a warm contrast to the black exterior, fostering a calm environment that encourages thoughtful contemplation. The colors work together to create a space that feels intimate and supportive of meditation.

Material Considerations

The building uses red and black steel plates as its primary materials, chosen for their strength and aesthetics. These materials provide durability and enhance the overall modern feel of the design. The use of steel allows for both stability and a certain lightness, aligning with the project's intentions to create a contemplative space.

Environmental Integration

The design allows the TIN HOUSE to blend into its surroundings while serving as a dedicated space for meditation. By focusing on isolation, it reduces distractions from the outside world. The thoughtful arrangement of spaces promotes a deep connection between users and their environment, heightening their reflective experience.

The transitions between the interior and exterior invite individuals to move from the outside noise into a realm created for focused thought. The contrast of colors, black and red, guides this journey, marking the shift from distraction to introspection.

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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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