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Seawater-Cooled Residence Featuring Rammed Earth Finishes and Sustainable Landscape Integration

Author:
Valeria Passetti
Seawater-Cooled Residence Featuring Rammed Earth Finishes and Sustainable Landscape Integration

Project in-detail

Incorporating seawater cooling technology and rammed earth finishes, this Dubai residence harmonizes sustainable living with traditional design elements to create an innovative family home.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates seawater-based cooling systems for energy efficiency.
02
Utilizes rammed earth walls for thermal mass and sustainability.
03
Features a rooftop greenhouse to promote urban agriculture.
04
Includes traditional mashrabiyya screens for privacy and ventilation.
05
Integrates extensive landscaping with native plants for biodiversity.

### Overview

Located in Dubai, the residential project incorporates sustainable architecture aimed at addressing both environmental challenges and cultural relevancy. By integrating advanced seawater technology with traditional design elements, the structure promotes ecological responsibility while catering to the local context. The intent is to create a living environment that not only meets the needs of its inhabitants but also serves as a model for future sustainable practices.

### Spatial Arrangement and Functionality

The layout distinctly separates public and private spaces, supporting both family interactions and individual privacy. Communal areas on the ground level include a kitchen, dining room, and living room, enhancing social connectivity. The upper level is designed for personal quarters, ensuring a practical configuration that fosters a secure family environment. Additional features, such as a rooftop greenhouse, provide cooling benefits through evaporative systems and support sustainable food production while educating residents about environmental stewardship.

### Sustainable Technologies and Material Innovation

Utilizing seawater for cooling and a sophisticated desalination system, the project reduces dependence on conventional water sources. Rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling are incorporated for efficient water management, aligning with sustainable practices. Material selections emphasize local sourcing and cutting-edge technology, featuring a combination of rammed earth finishes, 3D-printed clay and straw walls, transparent glass for shading, and traditional Islamic elements such as mashrabiyya screens. This careful choice of materials enhances both the structural integrity and aesthetic appeal while also promoting thermal comfort through passive design strategies, including cool roofs and automated shading systems.

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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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