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Translucent Glass Towers and Polished Stone Form Community Crater Experience

Author:
Luciano Schiavone
Translucent Glass Towers and Polished Stone Form Community Crater Experience

Project in-detail

Sharp glass towers rise from a natural crater, creating a vibrant community space that seamlessly blends sustainability and urban living.
5 key facts about this project
01
Sharp glass ends of the towers resemble beams of light.
02
A large cistern in the crater collects and stores rainwater.
03
Thin, slit windows enhance both privacy and views.
04
Polished stone walls integrate solar technology for energy uses.
05
Sloping park areas mimic natural landscape features for recreation.

The Alto Basso project stands out by combining high-rise towers with an organic crater, creating an inviting urban space. Located in a bustling environment, the design aims to encourage community interaction while emphasizing the visual impact of its structures. The concept revolves around verticality, presenting a series of sleek, thin towers that reflect contemporary urban living.

Design Concept and Aesthetics

This architectural effort plays with contrasting elements. The tall, polished towers emerge from the natural, rocky surface of the crater. This contrast enhances the overall look and helps narrate the relationship between the built and natural environments. The towers echo traditional silhouettes while adapting to modern city needs, creating a cohesive feel.



Materials and Sustainability

Materials are chosen for their visual appeal and practical qualities. The towers feature glass surfaces that reflect light, creating a bright and open atmosphere inside. A stone wall on the southern side of the development not only protects against direct sunlight but also incorporates solar panels to support energy needs. This attention to sustainability reflects a growing focus on responsible design.



Community Engagement

The crater serves as a center for the community. It promotes public interaction and connects the upper structures to the ground level. The design incorporates slopes and recesses that resemble the natural landscape, providing areas for relaxation and gathering. A large cistern placed in the center collects rainwater. This feature highlights the commitment to managing resources effectively.



Circulation and Connection

The layout encourages movement through the use of ramps and viewing platforms that connect different spaces. These elements bring together the shops and cafes in the crater with the offices and apartments above. The overall arrangement allows for a lively environment where people can easily access various activities while appreciating the design’s features.



In this project, thin windows enhance the relationship between indoor spaces and the natural world outside. These details not only add to visual appeal but also help occupants feel connected to their surroundings, enhancing the experience of life within a vertical 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
competition now

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