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Textured Facades and Natural Lighting in Sustainable Community Arts Hub

Authors:
Samuel Kofi Adabie, Samuel Welbeck, Charity Atuah, Beatrice Bediako- Kissi
Textured Facades and Natural Lighting in Sustainable Community Arts Hub

Project in-detail

Combining textured facades with abundant natural lighting, the arts centre embodies a sustainable approach through locally sourced materials, creating a versatile space for community engagement and artistic collaboration.
5 key facts about this project
01
Textured facades incorporate local artistic motifs, reflecting regional cultural heritage.
02
Cross-laminated timber panels provide structural integrity while enhancing sustainability.
03
Charred wooden shingles offer fire resistance and a distinct aesthetic quality.
04
The bent A-frame design optimizes natural light and interior spatial dynamics.
05
Flexible performance spaces accommodate a variety of artistic events and community activities.

**Overview**
The SOS Arts Centre is situated in a vibrant community environment, designed to serve as a central hub for artistic activities and cultural exchange. The intent of the Centre is to promote collaboration among local artists and facilitate engagement with the wider community. By focusing on accessibility and inclusivity, the layout creates opportunities for interaction, ensuring that diverse community members can fully participate in the array of creative offerings.

**Spatial Organization**
The site plan effectively delineates various functional zones within the Centre. A primary performance space acts as the centerpiece for events, designed to encourage social interaction among attendees. Complementing this are exhibition areas dedicated to presenting local artwork, thereby providing a platform for artists to showcase their creations. Additionally, workshops and studio rooms are incorporated to support educational initiatives, fostering both learning and collaboration. The landscaping is thoughtfully integrated, enhancing the overall environment while promoting a sense of tranquility conducive to creativity.

**Materials and Sustainability**
Material selection is central to the Centre’s identity and environmental responsibility. Structural elements utilize brick for its thermal mass and durability, while wood accents offer warmth and enhance interior finishes. Metal components contribute to the contemporary aesthetic, particularly in the vertical elements and support structures, ensuring structural integrity. Extensive use of glass in windows and facades enhances transparency and encourages a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Sustainability practices are embedded in the design, featuring locally-sourced materials and passive strategies that improve energy efficiency, alongside green roofs that enhance biodiversity.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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