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Tactile Walls and Curved Forms in a Garden-Focused Residential Space

Author:
Ho chun Au-yeung
Tactile Walls and Curved Forms in a Garden-Focused Residential Space

Project in-detail

A continuous tactile wall and semi-circular room shapes define a residential space in Yau Yat Village, designed to enhance navigation and independence for visually impaired individuals.
5 key facts about this project
01
Continuous tactile wall provides orientation guidance.
02
Rooms feature semi-circular shapes to enhance accessibility.
03
Garden serves as a sound buffer from external noise.
04
Natural light is optimized through an east-facing curtain wall.
05
Handrails integrated at key furniture heights support navigation.

House-I is a response to the everyday challenges faced by visually impaired individuals. Located in Yau Yat Village, Hong Kong, it aims to create a living space that enhances independence and accessibility. By using a clear linear layout for its design, the house allows easy navigation through different areas, catering specifically to the needs of its future occupant.

Linear Layout
The design centers around a straightforward linear pathway that organizes key functions of the home, including the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living area, and foyer. This layout reduces confusion and enables smooth transitions from one space to another. Instead of being scattered or haphazard, each area connects logically, making it easier for the occupant to navigate without needing to rely on visual information.

Room Configurations
Rooms have been designed with thoughtfulness and practicality in mind. The exterior walls are shaped in semi-circular forms, minimizing corners and sharp edges. This design choice helps create a more open feel while also simplifying movement within each space. The arrangement encourages ease of access, allowing the occupant to interact comfortably with their surroundings.

Tactile Orientation
A continuous tactile wall runs along the west side of the house. This wall features guides that help with orientation as one enters each room, providing key reference points. A handrail, positioned in line with major pieces of furniture, serves as a physical marker, aiding in navigation. These features work together to enhance spatial awareness and support the occupant’s independent movement throughout the home.

Natural Light and Acoustic Design
Natural light plays an important role in the home’s design. The curtain wall on the east side brings in sunlight, creating brightness that enhances visual orientation. The adjacent garden is another significant feature, designed to minimize noise from the outside. Reducing sound distractions is crucial for residents who might find typical urban noise challenging. This garden not only improves the home's acoustic quality but also allows light and greenery to filter into the living space, crafting a balanced indoor environment.

The arrangement of rooms and features creates a practical living area where natural light highlights the shapes of furniture. This focus on tactile surfaces and thoughtful design respects the unique needs of the occupant while grounding the space in a user-centered approach.

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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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