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Charred Wooden Shingles and Cross-Laminated Timber Form Sustainable Urban Dwellings

Charred Wooden Shingles and Cross-Laminated Timber Form Sustainable Urban Dwellings

Project in-detail

Utilizing cross-laminated timber and charred wooden shingles, this innovative urban dwelling repurposes underused parking spaces into efficient, sustainable living units that address the pressing demand for affordable housing.
5 key facts about this project
01
Repurposes underused parking lots into livable units.
02
Constructed primarily with cross-laminated timber for sustainability.
03
Incorporates charred wooden shingles for aesthetic and durability.
04
Features an innovative bent A-frame design that maximizes space.
05
Includes a rainwater harvesting system to enhance resource efficiency.

### Overview

The Re-Occuppant project addresses contemporary challenges in urban living, specifically targeting the efficient utilization of existing infrastructure in densely populated areas. The design revolves around repurposing underused parking lots into small-scale, affordable housing units, providing a pragmatic response to the growing housing crisis in urban centers.

### Architectural Composition and Materiality

The building features a vertical, compact form that mirrors the structure of a multi-story car park, allowing for parking beneath while maximizing spatial efficiency. This modular design enables flexibility in unit arrangement, fostering scalability and integration with surrounding structures. The use of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) as the primary structural framework is notable for its sustainability and speed of assembly, reducing on-site waste. Complementing this, insulated wall panels made from Kingspan QuadCore products enhance energy efficiency and contribute to lower carbon emissions, supporting the overall sustainability goals of the project.

### Systems and Community Impact

Incorporating advanced sustainability systems, the design includes rainwater harvesting to manage water resources effectively and mitigate urban stormwater runoff. Photovoltaic cells are integrated to harness solar energy, contributing to the building's self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on traditional power sources. Strategically positioned within existing parking spaces, the project not only addresses housing demand but also revitalizes neglected urban areas, promoting community engagement and interaction through the transformation of underutilized spaces.

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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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