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Reimagining Coastal Living with Recycled Glass and Mahogany in a Historic Urban Residence

Authors:
Kristopher Musumano, Chen Xia, Kevin Musumano
Reimagining Coastal Living with Recycled Glass and Mahogany in a Historic Urban Residence

Project in-detail

Recycled ocean glass and warm mahogany frames integrate seamlessly into a revitalized historic structure, offering a modern urban residence with stunning coastal views and enhanced communal spaces.
5 key facts about this project
01
Recycled ocean glass is integrated into interior finishes, promoting sustainability.
02
The bent A-frame design enhances structural stability while maximizing interior space.
03
Historic poly-chromatic plaster is preserved, connecting the past with contemporary design.
04
Mahogany frames are combined with charred wooden shingles for durability and aesthetic appeal.
05
Large atrium spaces facilitate natural light flow, creating a bright and welcoming environment.

### Project Overview

The revitalization of a historic structure at the intersection of Main Street and Town Green aims to convert this civic landmark into urban residences while preserving its historical significance and enhancing its connection to the Housatonic River and the Atlantic Ocean. The design focuses on bridging the vibrant activity of Main Street with the serene ocean views, allowing for a meaningful interaction between the building and its surroundings.

### Spatial Strategy

The design incorporates a concept of transparency, facilitating physical and visual connections between indoor and outdoor spaces. Indoor environments flow fluidly, promoting mobility and creating visual corridors that link various living areas. Strategic placement of generous windows and balconies enhances the indoor experience, fostering a relationship with the external landscape. The atrium serves as a central gathering space, allowing natural light to permeate and connect users with their environment. Each room is designed with sightlines toward the ocean and Main Street, reinforcing a sense of place.

### Materiality and Sustainability

Material selection emphasizes durability, aesthetic appeal, and environmental responsibility. The preservation of original poly-chromatic plaster maintains the historic character while integrating modern finishes. Mahogany wood adds warmth in window frames and doors, reflecting high-quality craftsmanship. Recycled ocean glass is incorporated into interior finishes to align with sustainability objectives, echoing the coastal context. Concrete serves both structural and aesthetic roles, reinforcing the building's robustness while harmonizing with its environment. These materials contribute to the overall narrative and character of the building, creating an inviting atmosphere for occupants.

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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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