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Reflective Glass and Danpalon Facade Merging Nature and Community in a Small Cafe Design

Authors:
Sarah Hong, Seth Baguion, Yuran Qin
Reflective Glass and Danpalon Facade Merging Nature and Community in a Small Cafe Design

Project in-detail

Utilizing a facade of reflective glass and Danpalon, this cafe integrates transparency and environmental context to create an engaging community hub focused on enhancing the local coffee experience.
5 key facts about this project
01
Reflective glass facade enhances natural light and connects the interior to the surroundings.
02
Danpalon cladding provides both aesthetics and functional performance in energy efficiency.
03
Interactive coffee preparation area allows customers to engage directly with the brewing process.
04
Cubic form mimics local architecture while promoting community interaction through its layout.
05
Efficient zoning separates customer and staff areas for streamlined service and ambiance.

## Kremm Cafe Architectural Design Report

### Overview
Located in Northern Europe, Kremm Cafe exemplifies a contemporary architectural response that harmonizes with its cultural and natural context. The design seeks to create a distinctive environment for coffee enthusiasts while articulating the region’s aesthetic qualities. Focused on integrating form with functionality, the project draws inspiration from local architectural traditions and natural landscapes, resulting in a space that fosters community interaction and engagement.

### Spatial Strategy and Interaction
The architectural composition consists of two distinct functional volumes that organize the customer-facing area and the service zone for staff. This dual-box approach facilitates efficient operations while enhancing user experience. The interior layout promotes interaction, featuring key elements such as an open coffee preparation area and a gelato display, which invites patrons to visually engage with the crafting process. The strategic placement of mirrored surfaces and transparent cladding enhances the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing natural light to penetrate while reflecting the surrounding environment.

### Material Selection and Sustainability
The choice of materials at Kremm Cafe is aligned with sustainability goals and local identity. Prominent materials include Danpalon, a lightweight, transparent modular cladding that serves both aesthetic and functional purposes. Mirrored surfaces enable the cafe to visually connect with its environment, creating dynamic reflections that capture the vibrancy of community life. Additionally, dark glossy ceramic tiles evoke regional characteristics, such as the glow of the Northern Lights, enhancing the overall ambiance. The selection of these materials contributes to minimizing the environmental impact of the project while supporting local sourcing initiatives.

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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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