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Vertical Gardens and Solar Panels Enhance Community Space Built with Sustainable Materials

Author:
Nasra Ally Rubeya
Vertical Gardens and Solar Panels Enhance Community Space Built with Sustainable Materials

Project in-detail

Incorporating vertical gardens and solar panels into a design of concrete and glass, the community centre promotes sustainable living while serving as a vibrant hub for local markets and social interaction.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates vertical gardens to enhance biodiversity and air quality.
02
Utilizes solar panels to achieve energy efficiency and sustainability.
03
Features a bent A-frame design that maximizes natural light and aesthetics.
04
Constructed with locally sourced materials to support the regional economy.
05
Offers dedicated spaces for urban farming to promote food security.

### Market Hall & Community Centre for Healthy Living

**Location:** Hounslow, United Kingdom
**Site Area:** 1,809 m²

The Market Hall and Community Centre for Healthy Living is an urban initiative designed to enhance community engagement and promote sustainable lifestyles in Hounslow. The project integrates multiple functionalities—ranging from a market and community facilities to residential units—in an effort to address local needs while fostering social interaction and well-being through accessible urban farming opportunities.

#### Spatial Configuration and Functionality

This architectural scheme prioritizes a multi-functional layout that combines commercial, recreational, and residential elements. The central Market Hall is dedicated to local vendors and emphasizes the sale of fresh, organic produce, thus supporting local entrepreneurship and ensuring access to healthy food options. The design includes community spaces for workshops and meetings, encouraging social interaction among users. Additionally, the integration of green spaces, including roof gardens and public plazas, provides recreational areas and supports urban farming initiatives, contributing to the overall resilience and vitality of the neighborhood.

#### Material Selection and Environmental Strategies

The building's design incorporates specific materials that adhere to sustainability principles while ensuring aesthetic and functional performance. Concrete serves as the primary structural material, providing stability and durability. Extensive use of glass in the façades fosters visual connectivity with the environment and maximizes natural light. Wood accents add warmth to community areas, enriching the user experience. The integration of green facade systems enhances biodiversity and air quality, utilizing sustainable materials that align with low-carbon objectives. Additional sustainability features include solar panels for energy efficiency, rainwater harvesting systems for irrigation, and educational urban farming programs that empower residents and promote food security within the community.

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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

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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