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Sensory Gardens and Smart Glass in an Accessible Residential Home

Author:
Arton Qorri
Sensory Gardens and Smart Glass in an Accessible Residential Home

Project in-detail

With its innovative use of smart glass and thoughtfully designed sensory gardens, the residence creates an accessible living space that enhances the outdoor experience for visually impaired residents.
5 key facts about this project
01
Sensory gardens designed to enhance interaction for visually impaired residents.
02
Smart glass technology adjusts light while blocking UV rays for improved comfort.
03
A floating wall element conceals utility functions without compromising aesthetics.
04
Extensive glazing creates a continuous visual connection between indoors and outdoors.
05
Rainwater collection system supports sustainable irrigation for the gardens.

The Home for the Blind is located in Pejton, a neighborhood situated north of the city center of Prishtina. Designed to provide a supportive living environment for individuals with visual impairments, the residence emphasizes accessibility and sensory experience. The design is influenced by traditional local architecture, incorporating familiar elements of stone and brick. At the same time, it offers a modern interpretation that caters to the needs of its inhabitants.

Architectural Concept

The primary idea is centered around the understanding that barriers within physical spaces can create disabilities. This belief guides the design process, focusing on enhancing the daily lives of residents. By promoting connection and openness, the layout simplifies movement between living and sleeping areas, which adds to the overall functionality of the home.

Spatial Organization

The house is a semi-detached structure that utilizes glass partitions to maintain a sense of openness while ensuring privacy. These partitions allow natural light to fill the interior spaces, brightening the atmosphere. Surrounding each room are wild gardens that foster a connection with the outdoors, helping to reduce any feelings of confinement. The interior features a floating wall that conceals essential utilities, contributing to a clean and uncluttered environment.

Sustainability Measures

Sustainability plays an important role in the design. The roof includes photovoltaic panels for generating electricity and solar panels to heat water. Additionally, the home uses an air heat pump and underfloor heating, which improve energy efficiency. A rainwater collection system is also incorporated, allowing for effective irrigation of the sensory gardens and promoting responsible use of resources.

Sensory Engagement

A standout feature of the design is its sensory gardens. These spaces are crafted to engage different senses, incorporating sound, varied textures, and fragrant plants that encourage residents to explore. The gardens support interaction with nature, creating a therapeutic environment for inhabitants, enhancing their overall experience of home life.

Light floods into the living areas, playing with textures and creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The design balances privacy with openness, ensuring that residents feel both secure and connected to their surroundings.

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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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