Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Vernacular Detailing and Cognitive Mapping in a Community Hub

Author:
Michael Wacht
Vernacular Detailing and Cognitive Mapping in a Community Hub

Project in-detail

Clerestory windows and louvered skylights enhance natural light and highlight vernacular detailing throughout a flexible multipurpose venue designed to foster community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Clerestory windows enhance daylight across all interior spaces.
02
Louvered skylights provide controlled natural ventilation.
03
Design incorporates local vernacular detailing for cultural relevance.
04
Outdoor multipurpose areas support diverse community activities.
05
Geometric axes facilitate intuitive visitor navigation throughout.

The Kip Island Convention Center is a flexible venue located on Kip Island, intended to support a wide range of events from conferences to public gatherings. The design focuses on enhancing user experience by creating an organized layout that is easy to navigate. At the heart of the design concept lies an emphasis on accessibility and community engagement, combined with a strong connection to local architectural traditions.

Site Organization
- The arrangement of spaces uses clear geometric axes to guide visitor movement, enhancing the flow throughout the convention center. The North/South and East/West orientations help define functional areas. Essential spaces, such as exhibition halls and a central lobby, are positioned to create a natural path for visitors, promoting interaction and ease of access.

Natural Light Integration
- A key feature of the design is its emphasis on natural light. North-facing windows, clerestory windows, and louver-shaded skylights allow ample daylight to enter the interior spaces. This approach not only improves the atmosphere but also minimizes the need for artificial lighting, contributing to overall energy efficiency.

Flexible Programming
- The convention center is designed with versatility in mind, offering outdoor multipurpose areas that can accommodate various activities. These spaces can host public events, festivals, and camping, catering to the community's diverse needs. The layout supports adaptability, allowing for different uses over time and encouraging people to gather and interact.

Architectural Detailing
- The detailing throughout the facility reflects a dedication to local architecture, ensuring that the structure harmonizes with its environment. The careful consideration of scale and aesthetics helps anchor the building in its geographical context. Each design element is chosen to enhance the sense of place, making it a fitting addition to the surroundings while meeting functional requirements.

Visitors experience a thoughtful design that encourages movement between indoor and outdoor spaces. For example, the central lobby acts as a welcoming area that links various parts of the center and smooth transitions to the outdoors. This connection promotes a lively atmosphere where activities can flow naturally from one area to another.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

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

`
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

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
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy