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Transparent Glass Facade and Winding Steel Staircase Elevate Waterfront Observation Experience

Authors:
Joachim Surdy, Anna Olczak
Transparent Glass Facade and Winding Steel Staircase Elevate Waterfront Observation Experience

Project in-detail

A winding steel staircase spirals through a transparent glass facade, offering expansive views of the waterfront while serving as a communal space for exploration and observation.
5 key facts about this project
01
A transparent glass facade maximizes natural light while providing unobstructed views.
02
The winding steel staircase encourages active exploration throughout the structure.
03
Multi-functional spaces at the base facilitate public interaction and community engagement.
04
Panoramic observation platforms offer diverse viewpoints of the surrounding urban landscape.
05
Sustainable materials, including high-performance glazing, enhance energy efficiency.

## Project Overview
The contemporary observation tower is situated along a waterfront area in Riga, Latvia, reinforcing its connection to neighboring Baltic capitals such as Tallinn and Vilnius. The design adheres to a modernist approach, integrating functional elements that engage with the surrounding environment and serve a diverse range of user groups.

### Spatial Organization and User Engagement
The design prioritizes a spatial experience that fosters interaction between individuals and both natural and urban landscapes. The tower’s height and slender profile promote this connection, symbolizing the unity among the Baltic states. The ground floor serves as an entry point, functioning as a multi-purpose area with ticketing facilities and social spaces. Intermediate levels host a series of observation platforms interconnected by accommodating staircases, ensuring varying perspectives of the urban environment. The top floor is designed as an observation deck, offering panoramic views of Riga’s architectural diversity.

### Materiality and Structural Considerations
The façade consists of a glass and steel assembly, enhancing transparency and energy efficiency while providing extensive views of the surroundings. High-performance glazing contributes to the structure's sustainability by optimizing natural light while minimizing heat loss. The use of a structural steel frame supports the slender form, while concrete elements in the foundation and lower levels ensure stability. The integration of vertical slits within the façade not only allows for air circulation but also contributes to visual complexity, harmonizing the tower with the dynamic urban fabric.

The design includes a central winding staircase, promoting an engaging ascent that encourages exploration. Additionally, the tower’s positioning near water enhances the interplay between the built and natural environments, reflecting design principles that advocate for sustainability and cultural identity within the architectural narrative.

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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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