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Textured Wood and Braille Features Enhance Accessibility in Residential Design

Authors:
Veron Tordai-soós, Ilinca Ilovan, Andrea Keri
Textured Wood and Braille Features Enhance Accessibility in Residential Design

Project in-detail

Incorporating textured wood flooring and Braille engravings, the residence enhances navigability and sensory engagement, offering a thoughtful environment for individuals with visual impairments.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates textured wood flooring as a navigational aid for visually impaired users.
02
Features Braille engravings on entrance panels to communicate core values.
03
Design includes a central corridor connecting key functional areas seamlessly.
04
Uses carefully designed acoustical treatments to enhance positive sound experiences.
05
Integrates a sensory-rich backyard with varied textures and aromatic plants.

The design prioritizes accessibility and comfort for individuals with visual impairments. The overall concept focuses on reducing barriers between spaces to create a connected living experience. By eliminating door thresholds and unnecessary changes in materials, the design allows for smooth transitions throughout the home. A central corridor connects essential areas like the garage, front door, and backyard patio, making daily activities easy to navigate.

Design Intent

The main goal of the design is to enhance accessibility through thoughtful layout. The central corridor acts as a backbone, enabling users to move through the space without obstacles. By creating specific areas that are still connected, the design aids in orientation and usability, particularly benefiting those who may have difficulty seeing.

Acoustic and Lighting Strategies

Attention to sound and light plays a significant role in the overall experience. Acoustic treatments have been applied to limit background noise and highlight pleasant sounds, such as footsteps, which helps create a peaceful atmosphere. The lighting is designed to be soft and neutral, reducing glare and making the space more comfortable to navigate. This careful control of light contributes to feelings of safety and ease within the home.

Textured Elements and Sensory Landscape

Textured wood flooring is a key feature, offering tactile feedback that helps with orientation. The design continues into the backyard, where horizontal and vertical surfaces provide additional textures. A waterfall serves as a visual and auditory element, adding to the natural ambiance. Aromatic plants and flowers further enrich the sensory environment, creating a vibrant space that engages multiple senses.

Incorporation of Braille

At the entrance, perforated metal sheets carry Braille engravings with words like “trust, home, shelter, and love.” This detail emphasizes the commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. By incorporating Braille into the entrance, the design clearly communicates its values and enhances the experience of all visitors. The entrance becomes a welcoming gateway, echoing the project’s overall aim of creating a supportive and nurturing 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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