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Bamboo Structures and Vertical Gardens Enhance Sustainable Micro Homes for Refugee Communities

Authors:
Szu-yi Wang, Hye-mi Lee, Bartolomeo Peter Beccaria, Zain Kiyani
Bamboo Structures and Vertical Gardens Enhance Sustainable Micro Homes for Refugee Communities

Project in-detail

Constructed with bamboo and reinforced by vertical gardens, these micro homes create a resilient living environment that integrates sustainable practices while addressing the urgent housing needs of displaced communities.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes bamboo as the primary structural material, promoting local resources and cultural significance.
02
Incorporates vertical gardens to enhance biodiversity and provide food sources within the housing complex.
03
Features water collection systems integrated into the rooftop designs for sustainable resource management.
04
Emphasizes communal living through interconnected micro homes, fostering social interaction among residents.
05
Designed to facilitate adaptability, allowing for future modifications based on community needs.

### Project Overview
The "Tale of Rooting Community" initiative addresses the housing needs of the Rohingya communities in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, amid ongoing environmental challenges and a humanitarian crisis. The project seeks to blend sustainable living with community resilience and reforestation efforts, creating a living environment that fosters both individual shelter and a collective identity tied to the surrounding landscape.

### Spatial Organization and Community Engagement
The design incorporates a layout of micro homes arranged to encourage social interaction while ensuring personal privacy. This configuration enhances communal living, where shared pathways and communal spaces foster connections among residents and support collective activities, such as community gardening. The integration of living spaces with agricultural zones blurs the lines between domestic life and nature, facilitating a harmonious relationship with the environment.

### Materiality and Sustainability
Constructed primarily from locally sourced bamboo, Kingspan flat cassettes, and recycled materials, the homes reflect cultural heritage while ensuring functional durability and comfort. Bamboo serves both structural and aesthetic purposes, contributing to the welcoming atmosphere. Sustainability is prioritized through features such as roof gardens and vertical planting systems for rainwater capture, as well as the installation of solar panels to enhance energy independence. Local textiles enrich interiors, reinforcing cultural relevance and creating a sense of warmth.

This holistic approach not only addresses immediate housing needs but also lays the groundwork for sustainable practices essential for the long-term resilience and self-sufficiency of the Rohingya community.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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