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Vertical Louvers and Glass Facades in a Community Shelter Designed for Women

Author:
Charlotte Hemmen
Vertical Louvers and Glass Facades in a Community Shelter Designed for Women

Project in-detail

Utilizing vertical louvers for adaptive shading and expansive glass facades, the women's shelter in Seoul integrates sustainable materials and communal spaces to provide a safe and supportive environment for its residents.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes vertical louvers for enhanced solar control and privacy.
02
Incorporates large glass facades to maximize natural light and visibility.
03
Features modular multi-purpose rooms adaptable for various community activities.
04
Includes an outdoor terrace designed to promote interaction with nature.
05
Constructed with sustainable materials such as reinforced concrete and timber.

## Architectural Report: Women's Shelter Design in Seoul

### Overview
The women's shelter in Seoul is situated within a densely populated urban context, designed to meet the social needs of women in vulnerable situations. The project aims to create a safe and supportive environment that facilitates both shelter and personal development. Its strategic location ensures easy access to public transportation and essential services, fostering integration with the surrounding community.

### Spatial Organization
The architectural layout features staggered volumes that create dynamic spatial relationships, enhancing both movement and natural light throughout the building. On the ground floor, flexible communal areas—including a reception, multi-purpose rooms, and an expansive outdoor terrace—encourage social interaction and provide a sense of community. The upper floors comprise individual living spaces designed to maintain privacy while allowing for ample daylight through large window openings. The incorporation of common areas on each level promotes connectivity among residents.

### Material Considerations
Utilizing a carefully selected range of materials, the design balances aesthetic appeal with functional performance. Reinforced concrete provides structural integrity and adaptability, while glass facades enhance visibility and connection to the outdoors, contributing to a sense of safety. Steel beams support expansive open spaces without intrusive columns, and wooden decking in communal terraces introduces warmth and comfort. Vertical louvers offer shading benefits, improving energy efficiency by minimizing heat gain while maximizing daylight access. The overall material palette contributes to both the building's durability and its welcoming atmosphere.

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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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