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Biogas-Powered Shelter With Thermal Massing and Sustainable Timber Elements For Urban Volunteers

Biogas-Powered Shelter With Thermal Massing and Sustainable Timber Elements For Urban Volunteers

Project in-detail

Employing biogas technology and sustainable timber elements, the design provides a functional living space that supports urban volunteers engaged in educational outreach within Mumbai's complex communities.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes biogas digesters to convert organic waste into usable energy.
02
Incorporates cross-laminated timber panels for structural efficiency and sustainability.
03
Features charred wooden shingles to enhance durability and fire resistance.
04
Employs a bent A-frame design to optimize natural light and ventilation.
05
Designed specifically for community engagement with adjacent underserved populations.

### Overview
The United Nations Education Volunteer Home is located in Mumbai, India, a city characterized by its economic dynamism alongside pronounced disparities in living conditions. This project seeks to address urgent housing needs for volunteers dedicated to improving the lives of marginalized communities while adhering to principles of sustainability. The design reflects an intention to engage with the local context and promote social interaction within an area marked by both affluence and poverty.

### Spatial Organization and Functionality
The layout of the home is designed to maximize efficiency and promote community interaction. It features distinct areas for work and relaxation to accommodate the diverse activities of residents. The kitchen serves as a central hub for communal engagement, enhancing the living experience while ensuring essential utility. Strategic placements facilitate effective rainwater collection and storage, underscoring the project’s commitment to resource management.

### Material Selection and Sustainability
Materials chosen for the volunteer home emphasize durability and environmental responsibility. Structural elements utilize concrete to provide stability and thermal mass, while glass components allow for abundant natural light, creating visual connectivity with the environment. The incorporation of a biogas digester supports waste management by converting organic materials into energy, while solar panels fulfill renewable energy needs. Additionally, rainwater harvesting systems are engineered to withstand local climatic conditions, further reinforcing the project's sustainability objectives.

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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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