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Windcatchers and Polymer Harmony in Sustainable Community Living

Windcatchers and Polymer Harmony in Sustainable Community Living
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Employing polymer materials and climate-responsive windcatchers, the design creates a flexible and sustainable community environment that enhances family living through integrated green spaces and communal areas.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes polymer materials to enhance insulation and durability.
02
Incorporates windcatchers for natural ventilation throughout the community.
03
Features modular homes for customizable family living.
04
Includes communal gardens designed for local agricultural practices.
05
Employs native landscaping to promote biodiversity and reduce maintenance.

## Overview

Located in the United Arab Emirates, the urban eco-village project is designed to serve as both a residential area and a community hub, aiming to enhance the quality of life for modern Emirati families. The project emphasizes interaction and connectivity among residents while addressing contemporary urban challenges through a focus on sustainable living and cultural heritage. This initiative seeks to provide a forward-thinking environment that promotes communal engagement and an environmentally responsible lifestyle.

## Layout and Spatial Organization

The design comprises several interconnected neighborhoods, each featuring homes tailored to accommodate modern family sizes. Central to the layout is the incorporation of shared communal spaces, including gardens for community agriculture and recreation, dedicated playgrounds for children, and facilities that foster social interaction, such as gathering spaces. The arrangement of homes in a layered formation ensures both privacy and security while allowing easy access to communal areas through interconnected walkways and green spaces.

## Materiality and Sustainable Design

A diverse selection of materials has been employed to meet the project's sustainability objectives. Key components include polymer base materials for wall construction, which provide thermal insulation and durability; wood details for functional aesthetics; and Solid Polymer Sheets (SPS) that enhance insulation and structural efficiency. Large expanses of glass facilitate natural light and create visual connections between indoor and outdoor environments. The landscaping incorporates native flora to promote biodiversity and establish a harmonious relationship with the local ecosystem. Additionally, the design incorporates renewable energy solutions and advanced water recycling systems, aligning with the project’s goals of self-sustainability and minimal environmental impact. Features such as high ceilings and shaded outdoor areas are intentionally designed to mitigate heat exposure, fostering comfortable living conditions in the region's climate.

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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
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025

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

Open architecture competitions

  • Closest deadline first
  • Project competitions first
    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge

AIA (American Institute of Architects) invites you to design affordable housing in Denver

Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 2025

Recurring architecture competitions

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Final registration deadline 18 September 2025
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Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #7 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 18 September 2025
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
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Re:Form - 
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Choose a site—used, abandoned, or forgotten—anywhere in the world, and give it a new purpose

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Prize Monetary award
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Early bird registration deadline 2 October 2025
Hospice - 
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Terminally ill

Design a safe and supportive space to those struggling with a terminal illness

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Advance registration deadline 9 October 2025
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Take a step and make a statement!

Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 15 October 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 16 October 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025
The Last 
Nuclear Bomb Memorial

Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

Edition #6 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
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Final registration deadline 13 November 2025
Concrete 
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Design a concrete pavilion

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Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025

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