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Wire-Mesh Structure with Roughened Steel Creates Intimate Dance Experience

Author:
Oliver Jordan
Wire-Mesh Structure with Roughened Steel Creates Intimate Dance Experience

Project in-detail

A wire-mesh barrier slides to connect an enclosed performance space with an external gallery, allowing for an interactive dance experience that encourages community engagement within Berlin's techno culture.
5 key facts about this project
01
A sliding wire-mesh barrier allows the booth to transition from an enclosed space to an open performance area.
02
The use of roughened steel skin enhances both aesthetic appeal and structural robustness.
03
An external gallery promotes artist-audience interaction within the techno community.
04
The design references key elements from notable Berlin techno clubs, linking to the city’s cultural heritage.
05
Concrete floor tiles provide durability for intense performances, ensuring functional longevity.

The Techno Booth Berlin, titled "Node/Anti-Node," responds to challenges faced by the city's techno scene during the COVID-19 pandemic. Located in an industrial part of Berlin, it offers a multifunctional performance space that prioritizes both individual expression and group interaction. The design concept adapts to the changing needs of the community while capturing the spirit of nightlife and its cultural significance.

Performance Space

Stage 1 is designed as an intimate arena for a single performer, creating a setting where a dancer can connect deeply with techno music while remaining hidden from onlookers. This design allows for personal storytelling through dance. The performer can immerse themselves in their artistic expression without distractions or interruptions from the outside world. An external gallery aids in extending this connection, enabling interaction with the audience while maintaining focus on the performance.

Community Engagement

Stage 2 shifts the focus to community participation, transforming the booth into a space for public engagement and celebration. The structure allows a wire-mesh barrier to slide vertically. This movement opens up the space, revealing the interior and connecting the performer directly with the audience. Such a configuration encourages spectators to engage actively, creating a shared environment that reflects the essence of Berlin’s techno culture.

Materiality and Structure

The design incorporates a modularized steel skeleton that provides necessary support and flexibility. The surface of roughened steel reflects the raw aesthetics typical of Berlin’s underground venues. Concrete floor tiles are practical and durable, suitable for dynamic performances. Corten wire mesh serves as both a protective feature and an element that ties the structure to its surroundings. Blackened glass plays with light and visibility, balancing opacity and transparency to enhance the overall experience within the booth.

Technical Considerations

Essential technical components, such as brass wire conduits and aluminum ceiling dampeners, are included to support the functions of the booth without disrupting the visual language of the design. These elements ensure that the space is fully equipped for various performances. Together, they contribute to a coherent architectural expression and support the broader cultural narrative of the Berlin techno scene.

The thoughtful arrangement of light and shade within the booth invites exploration. Dancers move, revealing their energy and artistry while the atmosphere reflects the pulsating environment of techno music, echoing the experience of club culture in Berlin.

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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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