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Terraced Living Spaces With Natural Wood Finishes and Community Gardens for Senior Residents

Authors:
Max Fudal, Emiliano Romero, Andrew Roche
Terraced Living Spaces With Natural Wood Finishes and Community Gardens for Senior Residents

Project in-detail

Combining terraced layouts with natural wood finishes and integrated community gardens creates a sustainable living environment specifically designed for senior residents.
5 key facts about this project
01
Built with cross-laminated timber panels, enhancing structural efficiency and sustainability.
02
Incorporates charred wooden shingles for improved durability and weather resistance.
03
Features a terraced layout optimizing views and natural light exposure.
04
Includes native plant gardens designed to promote local biodiversity.
05
Ensures barrier-free accessibility throughout communal and private spaces.

### Project Overview
Located in Barreira, Portugal, the residential development "A Vida Verde" is designed to meet the housing needs of an increasing elderly population. This project emphasizes sustainable age-in-place solutions while facilitating a communal living environment reminiscent of traditional Southern Portuguese villages. The intent is to integrate natural elements and light within the design, fostering both autonomy and community connection among residents.

### Nature and Light Integration
The design prioritizes the interplay of natural light and green spaces, resulting in living environments characterized by expansive windows and balconies that enhance residents' engagement with the outdoors. This connection not only offers aesthetic benefits but also contributes to the emotional and physical well-being of the elderly population. The incorporation of pathways and landscaped areas supports accessibility and encourages interaction among residents.

### Spatial Organization
The spatial layout features strategically arranged living units that maximize natural views and sunlight while responding to the site's topography. A hierarchy of open spaces has been designed to create zones for solitude, socialization, and communal gatherings. The terraced configuration mitigates environmental impact while ensuring that all units maintain access to outdoor spaces and shared gardens, promoting mobility and community cohesion.

### Material Selection
Materials chosen for "A Vida Verde" reflect local cultural values and a commitment to sustainability. The use of durable concrete provides structural integrity, while natural wood finishes create warmth in communal areas. Generous glass elements facilitate light penetration and blur boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. The landscaping includes native plants such as Lavender, Rosemary, Thyme, Lemon balm, and Borage, enhancing biodiversity and sensory engagement within the community's environment.

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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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