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Bamboo Frameworks Enabling Floating Community Living With Rainwater Harvesting

Author:
Misak Simon Terzibasiyan
Bamboo Frameworks Enabling Floating Community Living With Rainwater Harvesting

Project in-detail

Utilizing a bamboo framework and rainwater harvesting, this floating community addresses specific environmental challenges while offering adaptable housing solutions for vulnerable populations in coastal regions.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes a bamboo framework for structural integrity and sustainability.
02
Incorporates rainwater harvesting systems to enhance self-sufficiency.
03
Modular unit designs allow for flexible configurations based on community needs.
04
Features rooftop gardens to promote local agriculture and community engagement.
05
Integrates reclaimed materials for buoyancy, minimizing environmental impact.

### Project Overview

The Self-Sustaining Floating Adaptable Community (S.F.A.C.) is situated in Bangladesh, a region increasingly affected by rising water levels and climate change. The intent of the project is to establish a self-sufficient community that can adapt to environmental shifts while fostering social interactions among its residents. Through this design, the project aims to address both immediate housing needs and long-term ecological challenges.

### Spatial Efficiency and User-Centric Design

A modular design strategy is employed, with individual dwelling units measuring 2m x 3m. This configuration allows for flexible spatial arrangements, effectively accommodating various living functions such as cooking, storage, and sleeping. Each unit includes rooftop gardens, which facilitate local food production and community engagement. Shared communal areas are integrated into the design to promote collaboration and social cohesion, ensuring that essential services like education and healthcare are accessible to all residents.

### Sustainable Materiality and Resource Management

The selection of materials prioritizes local resources and sustainability. Structural components are primarily constructed from locally sourced wood and bamboo for their durability and ecological benefits. Reused water barrels serve as buoyancy elements in the floating platforms, while biobased insulation enhances thermal performance. An effective water management system incorporates rainwater harvesting and greywater treatment technologies, such as Seabin systems, to minimize environmental impact. In addition, the integration of photovoltaic panels ensures energy independence, harnessing renewable sources to meet community needs.

The design also emphasizes ecological integration, promoting biodiversity through initiatives like fish farming, which supports local food systems. This multi-faceted approach enables the community to withstand demographic fluctuations and environmental challenges over time.

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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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