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Transparent Steel Facade and Colorful Tubular Structures Enhance Community Engagement in Urban Tattoo Academy

Authors:
Sarah Grieve, Kelsey Dettmann, Jarincy Flores
Transparent Steel Facade and Colorful Tubular Structures Enhance Community Engagement in Urban Tattoo Academy

Project in-detail

A vibrant collection of colorful tubular structures and a transparent steel facade transforms the traditional notion of a tattoo academy into an inviting urban hub for education and community interaction.
5 key facts about this project
01
A transparent steel facade allows visibility into the tattooing process, promoting public curiosity.
02
Colorful tubular structures serve as both circulation pathways and artistic elements.
03
The academy incorporates rooftop gardens to enhance urban green spaces and social interaction.
04
Workshop areas are designed for flexibility to accommodate various artistic practices.
05
Local cultural motifs are integrated into the building's design, reflecting the community's heritage.

## Project Overview
The Endless Ink project, located between the University of Melbourne and downtown Melbourne, is designed for the Melbourne Tattoo Academy. It aims to reflect the cultural significance of tattoo artistry while providing a functional space that accommodates educational and communal interactions. The architecture is intended to resonate with both practitioners and the public, fostering a cultural dialogue through its design language.

### Spatial Strategy
The layout prioritizes interaction between public and private spaces, promoting openness while also incorporating areas for solitude. Key design features include a distinctive circulation system that connects various functional spaces within the academy, facilitating educational activities alongside casual public engagement. The configuration strategically allocates areas for workshops, galleries, and outdoor plazas, each serving as a venue for congregation and interaction.

### Materiality and Cultural Context
Material choices are integral to the project's identity. The use of corrugated steel for the exterior offers a textured industrial aesthetic, while extensive glass elements enhance transparency and natural light throughout the interiors. Colorful tubular structures serve dual purposes as pathways and decorative features, adding a dynamic visual appeal. Additionally, the design incorporates local cultural references, such as motifs derived from Melbourne's tattoo heritage, which enrich the architectural narrative and encourage exploration of the craft. The integration of green spaces, including rooftop gardens, provides areas for relaxation amidst the urban environment, further promoting community interaction.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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