Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Cedar-Focused Residencies Featuring Phytoremediation and Green Roofs

Author:
Melissa Caron-labrecque
Cedar-Focused Residencies Featuring Phytoremediation and Green Roofs

Project in-detail

With a focus on sustainable practices, the use of Cedar and a green roof, this dual-residency for painters integrates creative studios with comfortable living spaces near a serene lake.
5 key facts about this project
01
Two artist studios are designed to maximize natural light and lake views.
02
A green roof incorporates native vegetation for ecological benefits.
03
The foundation includes recycled materials from an existing barn and house.
04
Water management employs a phytoremediation system for sustainability.
05
Rooftop gardens provide habitats for local wildlife, including bats.

The design is located next to a peaceful lake and serves as a dual-residency for painters. It combines living spaces with studios, creating an environment that supports creativity and community interaction. The overall concept focuses on blending work and daily life, making it easier for artists to draw inspiration from their surroundings while having the comforts of home.

Ground Floor Layout

The ground floor includes two studios, a dining room, a commune kitchen, bedrooms, washrooms, and a living room. This layout promotes an easy flow between spaces, allowing for both social gatherings and quiet moments of solitude. The careful arrangement ensures that residents can engage with each other while having personal areas for reflection and creativity.

Second Floor and Green Roof

On the second floor, additional bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room open to a green roof. This green feature helps with insulation and supports local plants and animals. The purpose of the green roof goes beyond aesthetics; it manages rainwater and reduces energy consumption, which aligns with modern principles of sustainability in design.

In-Between Concept

The “In-Between” concept is a key focus, highlighting how work and relaxation can coexist. The studios are designed to maximize natural light and views, connecting the artists' creative practices with their environment. The design blurs the lines between inside and outside, encouraging residents to use the landscape as inspiration for their work.

Water Management and Ecological Features

An advanced water management system is in place, featuring a phytorepurification method. This system emphasizes recycling and filtering water, which supports the environment. The design also includes elements that benefit local wildlife, offering a rooftop garden for bats. Such features show a commitment to the local ecosystem. In terms of materials, Structural Wood LVL Beams and recycled Cedar Wood from existing buildings have been used, which contribute to sustainability without losing the site's historical character.

These elements work together to create a space that allows for both artistic expression and everyday living, revealing a relationship with the landscape that enhances the residents' experiences.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
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
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy