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Sustainable Living Through Sandwich Panels and Cultural Wood Expressions in Contemporary Housing

Author:
Shoresh Hawez Hassan Hassan
Sustainable Living Through Sandwich Panels and Cultural Wood Expressions in Contemporary Housing

Project in-detail

Combining the efficiency of sandwich panels with traditional wood elements, the design creates a nuanced living space that emphasizes cultural heritage while meeting the demands of modern family dynamics.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes sandwich panels for enhanced thermal insulation and structural efficiency.
02
Incorporates traditional wooden slats in the facade for shading and cultural aesthetics.
03
Features a Majlis space specifically designed for gender-segregated gatherings.
04
Employs a bent A-frame design to optimize natural light and ventilation.
05
Emphasizes a flexible layout that can be adapted for varying family configurations.

# Architectural Analysis Report: House of the Future, Dubai

## Overview
Located in Dubai, the House of the Future reinterprets traditional Arab and Islamic architectural elements while integrating modern living standards. This residential design exemplifies how cultural heritage can coexist with contemporary lifestyle needs. By emphasizing hospitality, family orientation, and sociability, the design intends to foster familial connections in an evolving urban context.

## Adaptive Spatial Strategy
The layout of the house is characterized by flexibility and adaptability. It accommodates various family configurations by including optional spaces such as a swimming pool and additional kitchen facilities, tailored to suit specific lifestyle needs. The design features a thoughtful organization of spaces across multiple levels, with the basement housing multifunctional areas and the ground floor dedicated to social and communal interactions through open guest rooms and a Majlis, which cater to gender-specific gatherings. The upper floor includes four en-suite bedrooms designed for privacy while maintaining communal relationships, complemented by a spacious balcony that enhances the connection to outdoor environments.

## Material Selection and Sustainability
Materials have been carefully chosen for both their structural properties and aesthetic appeal. The primary structural element is concrete, ensuring durability, while sandwich panels are utilized for insulating non-load-bearing walls. Prominent use of glass enhances transparency, allowing natural light to permeate the interior spaces and creating a visual connection with the outdoors. The wooden facade features vertical slats that provide shading, contributing to an aesthetically warm environment, and metal components in structural support and finishing emphasize contemporary design elements. Additionally, sustainable strategies include efficient natural ventilation and shaded areas to mitigate the effects of Dubai's warm climate, embodying an environmental consciousness central to the design’s objectives.

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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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