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Sound-Absorbing Spaces Crafted with Translucent Concrete and Water Features in Urban Environment

Authors:
Joseph Boring, Yifan Gu
Sound-Absorbing Spaces Crafted with Translucent Concrete and Water Features in Urban Environment

Project in-detail

Crafted with translucent concrete and integrated sound-absorbing materials, the design harmoniously merges with water features and green landscapes to create a tranquil urban retreat focused on community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes translucent lightweight concrete to enhance natural light while maintaining structural integrity.
02
Acoustic walls are designed to absorb sound, creating a peaceful indoor environment.
03
Incorporates integrated water features that contribute to both aesthetics and sound dampening.
04
Fluid spatial layout encourages seamless movement and interaction among users.
05
Landscaped green slopes blend indoor and outdoor areas, promoting ecological connectivity.

### Overview

Located in a dense urban setting, the project aims to establish a serene retreat that mitigates the stress of city life. Drawing inspiration from the calming properties of water, light, and sound, the design creates a space conducive to relaxation and community engagement. The architectural approach emphasizes fluid forms and dynamic spatial configurations that reflect the surrounding terrain, thereby fostering a sense of tranquility and connection to nature.

### Spatial Organization and Materiality

The spatial arrangement consists of interconnected zones that fluidly transition between indoor and outdoor environments. This layout encourages movement and exploration, enhancing user interaction within the space. The architectural surfaces exhibit subtle undulations, inviting engagement and creating a lively atmosphere that contrasts with traditional urban structures.

Key materials include:

- **Serenity Concrete**: A smooth concrete variant that reflects sound, contributing to a distraction-free environment.
- **Concrete Earth**: Designed to absorb unwanted noise, this material enhances the ambience of serenity.
- **Translucent Lightweight Concrete**: Composed of fiber optics, this material allows natural light to permeate the structure while maintaining stability.
- **Ultra-High Performance Concrete**: This highly durable material provides structural support for the canopy, allowing for innovative design elements.
- **Water Installations**: Prominent water features, including waterfalls, serve both aesthetic and acoustic functions, enriching the overall sensory experience.

### Landscape and Lighting Integration

The surrounding landscape is intentionally designed to visually and physically connect with the building, featuring gentle green slopes that break the rigidity of the urban environment. This integration promotes ecological benefits and enhances user experience by inviting natural elements closer to the architectural space.

Lighting plays a crucial role, with a focus on maximizing natural light through strategic openings and translucent materials. Artificial lighting is discreetly incorporated to highlight key design features during nighttime, maintaining a cohesive ambiance. The overall design reflects a commitment to sustainability through thoughtful material choices and a focus on environmental impact while achieving a visually harmonious composition.

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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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