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Balconies and Garden Centers in Community Living Solutions

Author:
Aunnop Kaewphanna
Balconies and Garden Centers in Community Living Solutions

Project in-detail

Shaded balconies and a central garden center create a vibrant communal space that redefines urban living in Toronto, offering adaptable and sustainable residential units for diverse households.
5 key facts about this project
01
Each unit includes a shaded balcony for extended outdoor living.
02
A central garden center promotes community interaction and wellness.
03
Corridor spaces provide access to outdoor views and encourage movement.
04
Parking is relocated underground to maximize usable surface area.
05
Unit configurations cater to diverse household sizes and needs.

The Post-Pandemic Housing project presents a thoughtful approach to residential living in Toronto, addressing needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. It seeks to combine private and communal spaces, allowing residents to adapt to modern urban life. The overall design concept prioritizes flexibility and connection with nature, creating an environment for both individual and community well-being.

Key Design Features

Each housing unit includes balconies that provide outdoor space for residents. These shaded balconies extend the living area and encourage interaction with the environment. They allow natural light into apartments and offer residents their own slice of fresh air and privacy.



The layout features corridor spaces that link different units while allowing for movement and interaction. These corridors are designed to connect with outdoor views, helping to create an open feeling that counters the restrictiveness often found in traditional apartments.



At the heart of the project is a garden center that acts as a communal green area. This space serves different purposes, from gatherings to quiet reflection. The garden provides a natural setting for residents, promoting interaction and enhancing overall mental wellness by fostering a sense of connection to nature.



The variety of unit configurations is important, catering to households of different sizes. Unit One accommodates two residents, featuring essentials like a master bedroom, kitchen, living space, bathroom, and balcony. Units Two and Three can house four to six residents, equipped with multiple bedrooms and shared living areas. This design choice reflects the diversity of urban life and meets varying needs.



Parking is located underground, a decision that maximizes usable space on the surface for community aspects and green areas. This arrangement encourages a welcoming atmosphere, aligning with current urban planning principles that focus on pedestrian-friendly designs.



Large windows and integrated planters adorn the building facade, enhancing the relationship between interior spaces and exterior greenery. This approach strengthens the connection between residents and their environment, adding to the overall experience of living in this development.

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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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
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