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Timber-Lifted Living With Steel and Cascading Terraces

Authors:
Luca Soldati, Simone Zanini, Roberto Faccin, Carlo Andrea Vescovi
Timber-Lifted Living With Steel and Cascading Terraces

Project in-detail

Raising living units above the urban landscape, the design incorporates a central core for efficient vertical circulation and features cascading terraces that foster community interaction, all while utilizing steel and timber for structural integrity and warmth.
5 key facts about this project
01
Elevated units maximize urban views and air quality.
02
Central core design reduces hallway space for efficient circulation.
03
Communal cascading terraces enhance social interaction among residents.
04
Modular construction allows for flexibility in urban site utilization.
05
Extensive glazing ensures ample natural light and privacy management.

The project introduces a new idea for urban living, focusing on elevated residential spaces that rise above the busy streets of a city. It combines the comfort of home with a unique view of the surroundings. The design allows residents to experience an unobstructed perspective of the cityscape while creating a relaxing atmosphere far above the hustle and bustle. With its innovative approach, the project seeks to turn tight urban lots into desirable living spaces.

Elevated Living Spaces

The design centers around raised living units that take advantage of narrow plots typically regarded as unusable. By lifting the homes, the project not only improves views but also integrates them into the existing urban backdrop. This strategy minimizes the building's footprint, making room for essential public areas and preserving transit routes, thus allowing the community to maintain its flow.

Structural Efficiency

A central core plays an important role in the structure, providing support while facilitating movement between floors. This approach reduces the need for long hallways and maximizes living space for residents. The arrangement of living areas around a spiral circulation system promotes accessibility and allows residents to interact with each other, fostering a sense of community.

Outdoor Connectivity

Balconies and terraced roofs are significant elements that emphasize the importance of outdoor living in urban areas. The rooftop features a communal space where residents can gather and enjoy the outdoors. This cascading design offers access to greenery, allowing inhabitants to connect with nature despite being in a city environment.

Material Considerations

Materials used in the project include steel for its structural properties, enabling the construction of taller buildings while ensuring stability. Timber slabs add a warm touch to the interiors, giving the spaces a homey feel. Large windows are a key feature, allowing ample sunlight to brighten living areas, while semi-transparent materials help manage light and privacy, creating comfortable homes for residents.

On the rooftop, landscaped terraces provide a gentle slope that merges with the sky, inviting residents to appreciate views of the city and enjoy a tranquil retreat above the urban landscape.

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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
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