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Tensile Fabric Roof and Modular Prefabrication in a Floating Residential Habitat

Author:
Francisco Miguelangel Ygoa Fernandez De Castro
Tensile Fabric Roof and Modular Prefabrication in a Floating Residential Habitat

Project in-detail

With a tensile fabric roof and modular prefabrication elevated on steel pylons, this floating residential habitat integrates sustainable living with innovative design strategies to create a unique coastal dwelling.
5 key facts about this project
01
Elevated on steel pylons to adapt to rising water levels.
02
Tensile fabric roof design provides natural light while reducing heat gain.
03
Modular prefabricated units allow for flexible spatial arrangements.
04
Integrated vegetation enhances air quality and promotes biodiversity.
05
Utilizes sustainable materials for improved environmental performance.

### Overview

Located in Dubai, the House of the Floating Sand is a conceptual residential project that integrates traditional Middle Eastern architectural elements with modern design principles. The intent is to create a habitat that coexists with its aquatic surroundings while providing contemporary living conditions. This project seeks to establish a relationship between built environments and natural landscapes, thereby enriching the user experience.

### Spatial Strategy and Structural Design

The project features a multi-level layout elevated above the water, supported by a network of 30-meter steel pylons engineered for stability against environmental forces such as wind and waves. The configuration is organized into three interconnected zones, enhancing fluidity and communication among living spaces through walkways. The design incorporates modular housing units constructed from prefabricated elements, allowing for adaptability and transportability. Each unit is designed to integrate natural vegetation, which augments aesthetics and contributes to air quality.

### Materiality and Sustainability

The selection of materials is pivotal to the project's sustainable ethos. Structural elements utilize steel for durability, while tensile fabric serves as a lightweight roofing solution that minimizes solar heat gain and contributes to an inviting interior atmosphere. Glass is employed in facade components to optimize views and continuity with the surroundings. Precast concrete units ensure consistency and structural integrity, and natural materials like wood are incorporated in decorative features and vegetation planters.

Sustainable practices are further reinforced through the integration of solar panels, enhancing energy efficiency. The design promotes community engagement by featuring a central area intended for social interaction, fostering a sense of community among residents. By honoring traditional architectural motifs within a contemporary framework, the project aims to maintain cultural continuity while addressing future urban living challenges.

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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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