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Sand-Melted Brick Structure Integrating Health Principles and Medicinal Gardens

Authors:
Labeebjan Sham Sudeen, Vishnu Krishna Kurup, Safa Shukkur, Lulu Hasan
Sand-Melted Brick Structure Integrating Health Principles and Medicinal Gardens

Project in-detail

Utilizing sand-melted bricks and integrating medicinal gardens, this residential structure promotes health and community interaction through its design, ultimately fostering a sustainable living environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes sand-melted bricks for enhanced durability and sustainability.
02
Integrates medicinal gardens to promote health and well-being within the community.
03
Features large arches in the façade for improved natural ventilation and lighting.
04
Employs adjustable solar panels that optimize energy efficiency throughout the day.
05
Incorporates a unique water-tight sand tank designed for efficient landscape irrigation.

## Architectural Analysis Report: House of Longevity

### Project Overview

Located in Dubai, the House of Longevity represents a collaborative initiative with the local government, aimed at fostering sustainable living practices among Emirati citizens. The project seeks to enhance the quality of life by integrating health, wellness, and community-focused strategies within its architectural framework. It responds to the unique climatic challenges of the region while aligning with contemporary societal needs.

### Design Philosophy and Community Engagement

The design philosophy emphasizes wellness, social interaction, and environmental sustainability, adhering to the World Health Organization's guidelines for healthy living. The project is guided by twelve principles that facilitate a supportive living environment, including promoting healthy eating, encouraging movement through accessible green spaces, and fostering connections with nature and community. It incorporates multifunctional spaces to enhance social interactions, effectively bridging private and public environments.

The master plan fosters a harmonious relationship among individual residences, communal parks, and essential public facilities like mosques and schools, facilitating an active lifestyle while strengthening community ties. This approach encourages residents to engage with each other and their surroundings, enhancing the overall living experience.

### Materiality and Environmental Strategies

The architectural form is characterized by the use of sand-melted bricks, produced through a sustainable soil welding process that capitalizes on solar energy, creating a durable structure suited for the harsh desert climate. The façade features large arches and strategically placed openings that facilitate natural ventilation and maximize daylighting, minimizing reliance on artificial lighting.

Innovations in resource management are evident in the integration of fresnel lenses for solar energy capture and fog catchers for water collection, addressing the region's water scarcity. The landscaping employs a water-tight sand tank to enhance greenery, incorporating herb gardens and medicinal plants to support holistic wellness while promoting biodiversity within the urban environment.

### Unique Spatial Configurations and Flexibility

The design incorporates flexible zones that can adapt to the needs of the occupants. Movable partitions enable residents to reconfigure spaces for communal gatherings or private family activities, thus supporting a dynamic lifestyle. Additionally, the incorporation of multipurpose public areas ensures that spaces can evolve according to community needs, fostering a sense of ownership and connection among residents.

The architectural style, while nodding to traditional vernacular forms, also reflects modern living standards, paying respect to cultural heritage while addressing contemporary requirements. This thoughtful integration of design elements, materiality, and environmental strategies culminates in a comprehensive approach to urban living in an arid context.

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

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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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