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Subterranean Living With Rammed Earth And Polycarbonate Features In A Sustainable Urban Oasis

Authors:
Julien Tamas Delmonico, Shirin Pramod Karunakaran, Cheng Nam Ho, Drew Hart
Subterranean Living With Rammed Earth And Polycarbonate Features In A Sustainable Urban Oasis

Project in-detail

Rammed earth walls and polycarbonate diffusers create a climate-responsive dwelling that seamlessly integrates subterranean spaces and lush courtyards, offering a sustainable and private residential environment in Dubai.
5 key facts about this project
01
Rammed earth walls provide natural insulation while utilizing locally sourced materials.
02
Polycarbonate diffusers enhance natural light without excessive heat gain in living spaces.
03
Subterranean elements moderate temperature fluctuations and improve energy efficiency.
04
Integrated rainwater harvesting systems support sustainability and self-sufficiency.
05
Landscape design incorporates native flora, promoting local biodiversity and ecosystem integration.

### Project Overview

**Project Title:** The Sub-Set Oasis
**Location:** Dubai, United Arab Emirates
**Design Context:** House of the Future | Builder Architecture Competition

The Sub-Set Oasis integrates traditional Arabic and Islamic architectural elements with contemporary design to address residential needs within Dubai's harsh desert environment. The project aims to foster sustainability, privacy, and a connection to nature while honoring the region's cultural heritage.

### Spatial Organization and Functional Design

The design is organized across two levels, maximizing both communal and private living spaces. The ground floor includes essential areas such as a private living room, guest suites, an entrance courtyard, and a majlis. Central to this level is an atrium featuring cascading water, which enhances indoor air quality and creates microclimates. The first floor focuses on private living areas, each with direct access to individual courtyards. This arrangement improves natural ventilation and lighting through strategically placed windows and slatted wood shading, providing residents with relief from the intense sun.

### Material Sustainability and Environmental Strategies

The choice of materials emphasizes sustainability and cultural significance. Rammed earth walls, sourced from site excavation, offer thermal mass and visual appeal while reflecting traditional construction techniques. Polycarbonate sunlight diffusers ensure the residence benefits from natural light without excessive heat gain. Additional materials, including wood for shading and glass for water features, complement the building's thermal performance and aesthetic value. A heat reflective roof minimizes heat absorption, and a rainwater harvesting system supports water conservation efforts, underpinning the commitment to environmental integration.

The project's design facilitates a balance between privacy and community engagement, while landscaping incorporates native flora, promoting biodiversity. Photovoltaic panels are strategically positioned to harness solar energy, further enhancing the residence's sustainability profile.

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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
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