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Translucent Cotton Shell and Spiraling Ramp Elevate Community Gathering Space

Author:
Jan Storm
Translucent Cotton Shell and Spiraling Ramp Elevate Community Gathering Space

Project in-detail

A translucent cotton shell envelops a spiraling ramp, allowing natural light to grace a community gathering space designed for flexible use and engagement with the surrounding landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
A spiraling ramp provides a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape.
02
The Great Hall accommodates up to 70 people, promoting community interaction.
03
Locally sourced roundwood timber is used structurally, enhancing sustainability.
04
A translucent cotton shell allows for natural light while maintaining interior comfort.
05
Flexible annex design can be easily adapted to changing community needs.

The Spirala Community Home emerges within an elevated landscape, thoughtfully designed to encourage community interaction and shared experiences. It features two main areas that serve distinct purposes: the Great Hall for gatherings and an annex for other activities. The design is inspired by the form of a barred galactic spiral, which helps to establish a connection between the building and its natural environment.

Design Concept and Layout

The layout is carefully arranged to support a range of communal activities. The Great Hall stands at 12 meters wide and 5 meters high, providing a substantial area of 108 square meters. This space is intended to comfortably accommodate between 50 and 70 people. Additional storage space is located below the interior spiral ramp, enhancing the functionality of the design.

Exterior Features

One of the key features of the Spirala Community Home is the exterior spiral ramp. This ramp encircles the building and creates a continuous walkway, allowing visitors to take in the surrounding views from multiple angles. The entrances are positioned along the west-east axis to facilitate easy access and movement throughout the space.

Materials and Sustainability

The structure utilizes locally sourced roundwood timber, emphasizing the project's commitment to sustainability. For the outer shell, a translucent cotton cloth is used, which allows natural light to filter into the building. The flooring includes locally sourced black and white tiles arranged in a pattern that reflects the galactic spiral theme, enhancing the overall design aesthetic.

Ventilation and Climate Control

Natural ventilation plays a vital role in controlling the indoor climate of the home. During warm months, air flows in from the base, rises, and exits through upper sections. In colder weather, warmth from the floor moves toward the walls, providing comfort for occupants.

The design of the Spirala Community Home blends functionality with attention to the natural landscape, creating an inviting environment that promotes community engagement and connection to nature.

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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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