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Balcony Sub-Community with Split-Layer Design and Flexible Living Spaces

Authors:
敏懿(min-yi) 黃(huang), 林彣(lin-wen) 韋(wei), Cheng-yang Huang
Balcony Sub-Community with Split-Layer Design and Flexible Living Spaces

Project in-detail

A balcony sub-community integrates split-layer design and flexible living spaces, fostering a blend of privacy and social interaction within a residential environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Balcony sub-community encourages outdoor socializing.
02
Split-layer design optimizes space and functionality.
03
Flexible room configurations accommodate diverse needs.
04
Itinerant art gallery enhances community cultural exchange.
05
Integration of natural elements promotes environmental connection.

The Empty Nest Project presents an exploration of how living environments can connect with nature. It offers a design that is both comforting and secure, drawing upon the imagery of living within a tree. The architecture is constructed in a way that enables residents to feel sheltered and at ease while promoting a sense of community. This layered design concept creates interconnected spaces that support both personal reflection and social gathering.

Design Features

Various room types, including double and quadruple configurations, have been integrated to support different living arrangements. This flexibility caters to the needs of diverse residents, allowing for both privacy and interaction. Public spaces such as cafes and community classrooms are thoughtfully placed within the layout, enhancing opportunities for social engagement and collaboration among occupants.

Spatial Organization

The layout reflects a careful arrangement of spaces, similar to how branches extend from a tree trunk. Each area is designed to serve specific purposes, maintaining a balance between communal and private settings. Functional elements like split-layer chairs and sleeper storage partitions enhance usability, allowing residents to make the most of their living spaces. These features add practicality while promoting comfort.

Community Engagement

Connections between residents are encouraged through well-designed outdoor gathering spaces. A balcony doorway sub-community invites activities like barbecuing or casual meet-ups, reinforcing social ties. Additionally, a mobile art gallery enhances cultural interaction, allowing for creative expression to flourish among residents.

The design pays attention to structural stability as well. The unit floor slabs create a reliable foundation for the layered arrangement. This thoughtful approach not only supports the physical structure but also reflects an understanding of human interaction in living spaces. Subtle design details enhance the project's sensitivity toward the environment, demonstrating a commitment to blending space with nature.

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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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