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A Climate-Responsive Residence with Living Walls and Voids

Authors:
Wilson Lopes Do Nascimento Junior, Valerio Ziantoni, Gabriela Vitória Carvalho, João Pedro Pina
A Climate-Responsive Residence with Living Walls and Voids

Project in-detail

The design addresses the challenges of desert living by integrating sustainable strategies that support self-sufficiency and environmental resilience. Emphasizing resource efficiency and ecological balance, the project highlights the relationship between built form and natural systems in a harsh environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Integrates aquaponics for food production within the residential framework.
02
Features living walls that improve air quality and promote biodiversity.
03
Utilizes a central void to enhance natural ventilation and light penetration.
04
Employs clay bricks for thermal mass, optimizing energy efficiency.
05
Incorporates a greywater recycling system for irrigation and domestic use.

Located in a desert environment, Terrarium House explores sustainable habitation strategies that respond to the challenges of an extreme climate. The design focuses on self-sufficiency and ecological balance by incorporating advanced technologies and environmentally conscious materials. The project aims to foster a resilient relationship between the built environment and its natural context.

Spatial Configuration and Environmental Integration
The layout emphasizes spatial efficiency and environmental responsiveness. A central void enhances natural light penetration and ventilation, creating favorable interior microclimates. Vertical gardens, including green towers and living walls, are integrated to support air purification and on-site food production. The brick facade features intricate patterns that improve thermal regulation and contribute to passive cooling.

Materiality and Sustainability Measures
Materials prioritize local sourcing and environmental performance. Lightweight clay bricks provide structural support and thermal efficiency, complemented by waffle slabs for load-bearing capacity. Glass components maximize daylight and maintain visual connections to the exterior landscape. Sustainability features include water recycling systems, aquaponics for food cultivation, and a closed-loop nutrition model, facilitating resource reuse. Granite boulders in the landscaping create a natural transition between the building and its desert surroundings.

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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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