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Retractable Shutters and Birch Plywood in a Compact Urban Café

Authors:
Claire Gaspin, David Emmons
Retractable Shutters and Birch Plywood in a Compact Urban Café
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With its retractable shutters and carefully selected birch plywood, the compact urban café redefines convenience and functionality, offering a welcoming space for both quick visits and leisurely social interaction.
5 key facts about this project
01
The kiosk integrates solar panels to enhance energy efficiency.
02
Individual charging booths provide privacy and utility in a compact setting.
03
Retractable shutters adapt the space based on weather and foot traffic.
04
Birch plywood construction offers durability while maintaining a lightweight design.
05
The cube form encourages interaction from multiple directions in the urban space.

The Tiny Coffee House serves as an interactive piece of urban furniture designed to connect with its surroundings while offering essential amenities for urban residents. It prioritizes human scale and functionality, featuring a three-level layout that accommodates seating, a coffee bar, and individual charging booths. Positioned within a busy urban environment, it caters to both quick visitors and those looking for a place to relax.

Cube Form and Dynamic Access

The kiosk has a cube shape with four faces that allow for dynamic shutters, making it accessible from multiple directions. This design creates a sense of openness, letting people interact with the space as they move through it. The shutters can open and close, adapting to weather conditions and the flow of people, fostering both a welcoming atmosphere and functional shelter.

Lighting Strategy

Lighting is an important part of the design. At night, the retractable shutters expose LED lights that highlight the lines of the paneling. This feature not only enhances visibility but also provides a warm invitation to passersby in the evening, adding to the overall experience of the space.

Technological Integration and Sustainability

Individual charging booths offer both privacy and utility. These booths resemble confessional spaces, providing partitions that create a sense of separation. They can also unfold into benches with shaded canopies, addressing the need for charging electronic devices in social environments. The roof includes solar panels, which support energy efficiency by relying on renewable resources, highlighting a commitment to environmental awareness in urban settings.

Materiality and Structure

Birch plywood is a primary material used in the construction of the kiosk. It is lightweight yet durable, and its waterproofed nature ensures resilience against the elements. Aluminum components complement the overall design and maintain structural strength. Each material choice pieces together a cohesive look while enhancing practical performance.

The retractable shutters enhance interaction with users, allowing the structure to change its appearance and function throughout the day. The design encourages engagement with the urban environment, fostering a sense of community and usability.

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The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

`
Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

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