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Sustainable Living Spaces Crafted From Salvaged Wood and Mass-Timber Technology

Authors:
Will Oren, Ishan Rakshit
Sustainable Living Spaces Crafted From Salvaged Wood and Mass-Timber Technology

Project in-detail

Crafted using salvaged wood and advanced mass-timber technology, the project offers adaptable living spaces designed to support community resilience and self-sufficiency for displaced populations.
5 key facts about this project
01
Crafted from salvaged wood, reducing waste in construction.
02
Features a rainwater harvesting system for sustainable resource management.
03
Utilizes collapsible walls to allow for flexible interior configurations.
04
Incorporates biogas systems for energy independence and waste conversion.
05
Designed as modular units, promoting adaptability for varying user needs.

### Overview
Blooming Refuge is an architectural initiative designed to address the complex needs of displaced populations worldwide. With a focus on adaptability and sustainability, this project responds to the growing challenges faced by refugees due to displacement, social instability, and economic hardship. The project's design can be implemented across diverse urban and rural landscapes, offering a flexible shelter solution that integrates local materials and minimizes ecological impact.

### Spatial Organization and User Considerations
The design features modular units known as "Blooms," which support a dynamic spatial allocation that evolves throughout the day. Each unit is equipped with adaptable living and communal areas that serve multiple functions—from community gatherings in the morning to focused workspaces during the afternoon and communal dining in the evening. This flexibility aims to accommodate various user groups, including political, economic, and geographic refugees, as well as facilitate community takeovers for evolving needs.

### Sustainable Materiality and Resource Management
Material selection is critical to the project’s sustainability objectives. The use of Kingspan Pentaclad cladding provides insulation and durability, while salvaged wood minimizes waste and environmental impact. Structural integrity is achieved with pressure-treated curved Glulam. Additionally, Blooming Refuge incorporates renewable energy sources, such as biogas systems for organic waste conversion and slimline tanks for efficient water and energy management. Features like rainwater harvesting further enhance the project's commitment to ecological consciousness.

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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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