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Textile Facade and Natural Ventilation in a Mixed-Use Urban Tower

Authors:
Merlin Augele, Valerian Althammer
Textile Facade and Natural Ventilation in a Mixed-Use Urban Tower

Project in-detail

A secondary textile façade facilitates natural ventilation while a concrete core supports a mixed-use urban tower that houses residential, commercial, and community spaces.
5 key facts about this project
01
A textile façade enables enhanced thermal performance and natural cooling.
02
The building incorporates a central concrete core for structural stability.
03
Designed to facilitate airflow, minimizing reliance on mechanical cooling systems.
04
Includes a public terrace with communal spaces for social interaction.
05
Features dedicated zones for residential, commercial, and community activities.

Burj Aldawaran serves as a multifaceted solution to the growing demands of urban living in a densely populated city. The tower integrates various functions, including residential, commercial, and community spaces, creating an environment that supports a lively urban lifestyle. Its design concept emphasizes practicality and sustainability, drawing on historical architectural traditions while responding to the challenges posed by modern climate issues.

Structural Composition

At the center of Burj Aldawaran is a strong concrete core that rises to 100 meters, providing both stability and support for the building. Wooden floor slabs complement the core, adding warmth and improving sound insulation within the interior spaces. An external system of steel cables surrounds the core, enhancing structural integrity while contributing to an open visual style. This mix of materials creates a striking balance between form and function.

Ventilation Strategy

The design of Burj Aldawaran incorporates elements from traditional wind towers found in the Middle East. It utilizes natural ventilation through the movement of warm air. As warm air rises through the gap between the concrete core and the textile façade, a low-pressure area is formed underneath the building. This setup promotes a natural flow of air, minimizing the need for mechanical cooling systems and improving energy efficiency.

Community Integration

Burj Aldawaran acts as a community center, featuring 23 residential units and a variety of commercial spaces. The ground floor is dedicated to a marketplace, which encourages local commerce and allows for social interactions among residents and visitors. A public terrace on the fifth floor adds further value, offering spaces for cafés and restaurants that foster community engagement and connections.

Design Aesthetics

The building’s exterior is highlighted by a secondary textile façade, which is constructed on a triangular grid of steel cables. This design feature wraps around the concrete core and serves both functional and aesthetic purposes. The façade improves thermal performance while providing visual interest. The careful interplay of materials and colors reflects the building's multifunctional identity, while also honoring the cultural context of its surroundings.

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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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