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Strategic Color Use and Thresholds Create Safe Spaces for Families

Author:
Phuong Vu
Strategic Color Use and Thresholds Create Safe Spaces for Families

Project in-detail

Incorporating a strategic use of color and thoughtfully designed thresholds, the residence enhances comfort and accessibility for a family with an autistic child.
5 key facts about this project
01
Color-coded zones aid navigation for the child.
02
Central calm room provides quick access during anxiety.
03
Thresholds double as visual and physical boundaries.
04
LED backlit panels enhance spatial atmosphere.
05
Sustainable features include rainwater collection systems.

"Silence of Colors" is designed for a young couple with an autistic child, located on an island in Spivey Lake, Georgia. The concept takes inspiration from the autism symbol and the game of Tetris, focusing on creating a nurturing environment that prioritizes comfort and emotional well-being. The design carefully combines functional spaces with sensory experiences to accommodate the unique needs of the family.

Spatial Arrangement

The home’s layout ensures accessibility and security for the child. The child’s room and a calm room are centrally positioned, allowing the child easy access during moments of anxiety. Surrounding these spaces are the living area and the parents' quarters, strategically located along the outer walls to provide views of the natural surroundings. This arrangement facilitates smooth circulation while encouraging family interaction.

Use of Color

Color plays an important role in the design, promoting navigation and delineating spaces. Different colors are used to help the child identify areas and understand transitions between activities. Thresholds between modules serve both as physical barriers and visual guides, making the home easier to navigate. This thoughtful use of color supports a sensory experience that fosters comfort.

Artistic Elements

The thresholds in particular lend an artistic touch to the home. They resemble contemporary installations, drawing attention while serving practical purposes. LED backlit panels enhance the interior, creating vibrant color walls that contribute to a welcoming atmosphere. These artistic features engage the child's sense of awareness and understanding of their environment.

Sustainable Design Choices

Sustainability is another key aspect of the design. Photovoltaic panels provide energy, while a rainwater collection system allows for greywater reuse. This approach not only meets the household's functional needs, such as irrigation and bathroom usage, but also reflects a commitment to environmentally conscious practices.

Light streams through large windows, playing on the colors within the home, creating an inviting and supportive environment for all inhabitants.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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Chair
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Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
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MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
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Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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