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Seasonal Color Scheme Enhanced by Load-Bearing Wood Structure for Barrier-Free Scenic Access

Authors:
Xin Zhong, Yi Hu
Seasonal Color Scheme Enhanced by Load-Bearing Wood Structure for Barrier-Free Scenic Access

Project in-detail

A seasonal color scheme defined by dynamically arranged feature walls and a load-bearing wood structure facilitates barrier-free access to scenic vistas, enhancing user engagement with the surrounding landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Seasonal colors on feature walls represent the changing landscape throughout the year.
02
Ramps are designed with a gentle 1:14 slope for enhanced accessibility.
03
Load-bearing wood columns integrate structural support with aesthetic warmth.
04
Dynamic pathways provide varied perspectives of the surrounding scenery.
05
Sky windows maximize natural light while protecting against weather elements.

## Overview
Located along a scenic route, the Highway 14 Tower is a multifaceted structure designed to enhance barrier-free access to the surrounding natural landscape. This project aims to accommodate various demographics, including the elderly, children, and individuals with disabilities, by providing safe and inclusive sightseeing opportunities. The design concept draws inspiration from abstract forms that represent local forests and mountainous terrains, aiming to invoke a deeper appreciation for the changing seasons through its features and layout.

## Spatial Strategy
The tower's design integrates harmoniously with the site's lush vegetation and nearby water body, encouraging visitor immersion in the natural environment. Key to this integration is a series of color-coded feature walls, each representing a different season: spring (light green), summer (dark green), autumn (dark red), and winter (gray-white). Constructed with load-bearing wood columns, these walls not only contribute to the structural integrity of the tower but also promote an eco-friendly aesthetic that resonates with the surrounding landscape. The primary framework employs vertical load-bearing elements, which enable open and airy spaces while ensuring durability.

## Accessibility and User Experience
Accessibility is a critical component of the tower's design, featuring ramps with a gentle 1:14 slope that facilitate navigation for all users. These ramps spiral through the space, offering varied perspectives of the scenic views and enhancing user engagement with the environment. Additionally, the project's material choices reflect a commitment to sustainability, incorporating wood for structural columns and feature walls, laminated glass for skylights, and concrete for foundational elements. This thoughtful selection of materials aligns with the project's intent to create a welcoming and inclusive experience while emphasizing the relationship between the built and natural environments.

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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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