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Waffle Roof Structure with Integrated Green Space Enhances Visitor Experience

Author:
Vadym Mylostiuk
Waffle Roof Structure with Integrated Green Space Enhances Visitor Experience

Project in-detail

The distinctive wooden waffle roof supports a green space while facilitating natural climate control in a welcoming visitor center designed for community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Distinctive wooden waffle roof enhances structural strength and supports a green space.
02
Integrated earth heating system aims for zero energy consumption throughout the year.
03
Dedicated bus entrance facilitates efficient transportation access without congestion.
04
Separate volumes for key functions improve user flow and operational efficiency.
05
Designed with inclusive accessibility features for diverse visitor needs.

The design is situated within a natural landscape, focusing on creating a connection between the built environment and its surroundings. It serves as a welcoming space for visitors, emphasizing comfort and sustainability. The concept integrates transportation flow with user experience, allowing functionality to coexist with ecological responsibility.

Transportation Access

The project considers how visitors arrive, particularly through public transportation. Buses can enter the central area, reducing congestion. A bus stop is placed at the exit to help visitors transition smoothly, ensuring quick access to and from the center. This thoughtful approach simplifies travel for everyone involved.

Visitor Center Design

At the center of the design is a visitor area with separate spaces for key functions. The cash register and the main gathering space are distinct but connected by a canopy that serves as the roof for the two-story structure. The roof utilizes a wooden array based on a waffle principle, which creates an interesting visual feature while also supporting a green area above. This design choice aligns with the project’s ecological focus.

Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

Sustainability is a critical element of the architecture. The roof features an earth heating system aimed at achieving zero energy use, and it collects and recirculates rainwater, helping to protect the environment. Seasonal climate control is also considered; the roof’s overhangs block summer heat while allowing winter sunlight to warm the interiors. Mature trees around the site help manage light and improve the overall climate.

Community Engagement and Accessibility

Community interaction is encouraged with outdoor spaces for picnics and events. These features promote engagement among visitors and local residents. Accessibility is also a priority, with ramps and inclusive restrooms added to ensure usability for all. There are changing facilities for infants, making the environment friendly for families and visitors of all backgrounds.

The unique roof structure, with its wooden waffle design, adds both beauty and function to the building while supporting the green space above, highlighting a commitment to merging architectural design with nature in a practical, user-friendly manner.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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