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Reflective Folds Connecting Community Spaces

Authors:
Ian Nazareth, Kayden Lau, Natasha Maben
Reflective Folds Connecting Community Spaces

Project in-detail

Reflection lines and folds create a seamless connection between public spaces in Adelaide, enhancing community interaction and engagement through thoughtfully arranged geometric forms.
5 key facts about this project
01
Reflection lines guide movement and interaction throughout the design.
02
Geometric forms are inspired by the varying heights of the surrounding landscape.
03
Site-specific folds enhance the transition between indoor and outdoor environments.
04
The facade incorporates a modern reinterpretation of Gothic window typologies.
05
Public art is integrated into the spatial layout to enrich user experience.

The design is located in Adelaide and revolves around an analysis of the city’s significant squares: Hurtle Square, Whitmore Square, Light Square, Hindmarsh Square, and Victoria Square. The approach aims to understand how architecture interacts with public spaces. By focusing on reflection and user engagement, the design seeks to enhance the overall experience of the urban environment while fostering a sense of community.

Design Concept
The main idea centers on reflection lines that start at Hurtle Square, which serves as the project's focal point. This concept shapes the layout and creates a series of connections between different areas of the urban landscape. The design incorporates folds inspired by the site plan of Hurtle Square, allowing for smooth transitions between indoor and outdoor environments.

Public Art Integration
Public art plays a significant role in this design, inspired by the varying heights of the surrounding landscape. Geometric forms are introduced to create a visual language that adds depth to the structure. By designing cubes based on these height differences, the project enhances spatial qualities and visual appeal, making it more inviting for users.

Architectural Language
The design employs patterns from the site to inform the facades, ensuring they align with the reflective nature of the internal spaces. The reinterpretation of Gothic window styles leads to a modern wrap-around facade that connects historical design elements with contemporary architecture. This thoughtful integration supports the building's functionality while contributing to its visual story.

Urban Dynamics
The project highlights architecture's role in promoting social interaction within the community. The thoughtful arrangement of spaces encourages engagement, helping to foster a sense of belonging among users. The design articulates voids and layers floor plates to redefine public areas, creating an expanded realm that accommodates a variety of experiences.

Visitors can explore the architectural envelope, which offers pathways that weave through the public art and surrounding spaces. This thoughtful design element provides a unique opportunity to engage with both artistic expressions and the urban landscape, enriching the overall experience within Adelaide’s squares.

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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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