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Vertical Orchard Housing Utilizing Terracotta Screens and Flexible Modular Design

Author:
Raquel Lymaris Marrero Maldonado
Vertical Orchard Housing Utilizing Terracotta Screens and Flexible Modular Design

Project in-detail

Incorporating a flexible modular design with terracotta screens and vertical gardens, this housing solution addresses the challenges of tropical living while promoting community resilience and sustainable practices.
5 key facts about this project
01
Features terracotta screens that provide natural ventilation while enhancing privacy.
02
Utilizes modular units that can be reconfigured to adapt to changing space needs.
03
Incorporates a vertical garden system, promoting food sustainability within the living space.
04
Designed to transition between "Protect" and "Bloom" modes for weather resilience.
05
Employs rainwater harvesting systems to support sustainable water use.

### Overview
Located in tropical climates, the aflora housing concept reflects an innovative and culturally informed approach to residential architecture. The project prioritizes flexibility, adaptability, and sustainability to address the challenges posed by climate change and community dynamics. By blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living, it promotes an engaged lifestyle that fosters community resilience and aligns with traditional practices.

### Spatial Strategy
The design features a dual operational mode system, delineated as "Protect" and "Bloom," each catering to specific environmental conditions. In **Protect Mode**, the housing unit is configured to provide security and privacy during storms or adverse weather, ensuring a livable interior. Conversely, **Bloom Mode** allows for expanded living spaces that encourage interaction with the outdoors, enhancing natural light and ventilation while optimizing exterior areas for social engagement and activities.

### Materiality and Sustainability
The choice of materials plays a critical role in the project’s ecological strategy. A combination of **terracotta**, **corrugated metal**, and **steel** contributes to aesthetic appeal and durability while also reflecting local building traditions. The structure's modular components are designed to slide or fold, enabling adaptability in space requirements. Sustainable features include **rainwater capture systems**, **solar panels**, and **natural ventilation**, complemented by a **vertical orchard** integrated within the design. This allows residents to cultivate food directly in their living environments, promoting both sustainability and self-sufficiency.

Incorporating adjustable structures and sustainable materials, aflora effectively addresses ecological and social considerations, emphasizing resilience in the face of extreme weather challenges typical of tropical regions.

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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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