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Sloping Tea House Enhanced by Green Roofs and Transparent Facades in a Cultural Education Setting

Author:
Yu Chen
Sloping Tea House Enhanced by Green Roofs and Transparent Facades in a Cultural Education Setting

Project in-detail

The integration of a sloping tea house with green roofs and transparent facades creates a unique educational environment that connects cultural heritage with modern learning practices.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design incorporates a sloping tea house that harmonizes with the site's topography.
02
Cross-laminated timber panels are utilized for their structural efficiency and sustainability.
03
A unique underground Teaism tunnel connects various educational spaces, enhancing movement throughout the campus.
04
Green roofs support biodiversity while providing thermal insulation for the buildings.
05
Charred wooden shingles are employed for aesthetic appeal and weather resistance.

## Project Overview
Located in Chengdu, China, the project focuses on enhancing cultural engagement and spatial utility within Bashu Secondary School. It integrates elements of Teaism—traditional practices associated with tea cultivation and brewing—into both educational and recreational areas, aiming to promote cultural revival and multi-functional environments in contemporary educational settings.

## Spatial Integration
The design incorporates several key features that facilitate interaction and connectivity on campus. A prominent element is the **Teaism Tunnel**, which serves as an underground pathway linking various facilities, symbolizing the blend of tradition with modernity. The **sloping tea house**, strategically placed to align with the site's topography, provides a relaxing space for social interaction. Furthermore, educational facilities, including a library and classrooms, are positioned in close proximity to recreational areas, underscoring the importance of balancing academic and leisure activities for students.

## Material Composition
A carefully selected palette of materials enhances both sustainability and aesthetic quality. **Reinforced concrete** forms the structural framework, ensuring durability. Expansive use of **glass** in the facades filters natural light into interior spaces, while **wooden** elements in the tea house create warmth and a connection to nature. The inclusion of **metal components** for structural support and decorative purposes adds a modern touch, and **green roof systems** facilitate ecological sustainability through rainwater absorption and thermal regulation. This diverse materiality not only fulfills functional requirements but also embodies the overarching theme of harmony between built environments and nature.

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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

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
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