Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Roof Garden Habitat With Wildlife Integration and Low Maintenance Living

Author:
Gabriele Riscazzi
Roof Garden Habitat With Wildlife Integration and Low Maintenance Living

Project in-detail

With a focus on integrating a roof garden that supports local wildlife, this residence emphasizes low maintenance and energy efficiency, serving as a model for sustainable living near a picturesque lake.
5 key facts about this project
01
A roof garden serves as a habitat for local bat species.
02
The design prioritizes year-round comfort in extreme weather conditions.
03
Materials included focus on durability and low maintenance.
04
The layout encourages outdoor living and connection to nature.
05
Energy efficiency is supported through passive cooling techniques.

Painters' Lake House is a thoughtfully designed residence that prioritizes sustainability and harmony with its natural surroundings. Located near a scenic lake, the building serves as both a comfortable living space and a model for eco-tourism. The design addresses varying weather conditions, ensuring resilience against heat, cold, rain, snow, and wind. The overall look of the house blends with the environment, creating a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Roof Garden

A key feature of Painters' Lake House is its roof garden, which enhances the building's visual appeal and functionality. This green space not only adds beauty but also contributes significantly to energy management. By providing shade and utilizing evapotranspiration, the roof garden helps reduce the need for cooling, which lowers energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Ecological Integration

The design takes into account the needs of local wildlife. The roof acts as a resting place for a rare bat species during summer months, highlighting an important aspect of ecological awareness. The thoughtful inclusion of wildlife habitats within the architectural framework allows both humans and nature to coexist peacefully.

Low-Maintenance Design

Low maintenance is another important aspect of the residence. The design focuses on techniques that aim to minimize environmental impact while ensuring long-lasting performance. By simplifying upkeep, the building supports sustainable practices for residents and encourages responsible resource use.

Areas for outdoor living are also incorporated into the design, extending usable space into the surrounding nature. These spaces provide opportunities for relaxation and recreation, further enhancing the experience of living near Painters' Lake. The connection to the environment is both intentional and essential to the overall design.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy