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Translucent Metal Curtains and Warm Pine Create Inviting Communal Spaces In Residential Development

Authors:
Emma Karlsson Bruhn, Erik Magnusson, Christian Schmetzer, Pinja Myllykoski
Translucent Metal Curtains and Warm Pine Create Inviting Communal Spaces In Residential Development

Project in-detail

Translucent metal curtains and warm pine framing seamlessly integrate communal living spaces with private retreats, creating a balanced residential environment that fosters connection and comfort.
5 key facts about this project
01
Translucent metal curtains adjust for light and privacy, enhancing the adaptable façade.
02
The use of warm pine emphasizes tactile warmth in both structural and interior finishes.
03
A central garden acts as a multifunctional communal hub, promoting community engagement.
04
The project integrates sustainable features like geothermal heating and solar panels.
05
Flexibility in living arrangements accommodates various resident lifestyles and needs.

## Project Overview

The "Life in Between" project is located in Portugal and presents an approach that balances communal living with individual privacy through a focus on sustainability and materiality. The design seeks to activate social spaces while respecting the personal needs of residents, creating a harmonious relationship between the built environment and its natural setting. The integration of communal and private areas is a fundamental aspect of the project, reflecting the intentions of fostering community engagement alongside personal retreat.

## Spatial Configuration

The design emphasizes transparency and connectivity, featuring expansive sliding doors and transparent walls that blur the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces. This openness is coupled with a central communal living room, which serves as a versatile hub for various activities and social interactions, centered around a garden that strengthens the connection to nature. Each level of the building is strategically arranged to allow for both sweeping views and physical connections to communal areas, promoting an adaptive layout that addresses a range of lifestyles and living arrangements.

## Material Selection and Sustainability

Materiality plays a crucial role in the project, showcasing a thoughtful blend of warm pine, light concrete, metal curtains, and limestone mosaic. These materials not only reinforce the tactile relationship between residents and their surroundings but also enhance the aesthetic cohesion with the natural landscape. Sustainable practices are integral, incorporating green concrete, solar panels, and geothermal systems to minimize the environmental impact while ensuring energy efficiency. The design also maintains privacy through the inclusion of private balconies and shared terraces, enabling residents to enjoy personal space within the communal framework.

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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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