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Community-Centered Living with a Community Crane and Integrated Urban Farming

Authors:
Raphaël Monnier, Naing win Aung, Lin htet Nyan
Community-Centered Living with a Community Crane and Integrated Urban Farming

Project in-detail

Equipped with a community crane and designed for adaptability, the tower provides a multifaceted living environment that prioritizes public engagement and sustainable practices for homeless residents in downtown Yangon.
5 key facts about this project
01
Equipped with a community-operated crane for flexible housing delivery.
02
Incorporates urban farming areas to promote food security within the community.
03
Features a public ground floor designed for social interaction and engagement.
04
Utilizes a dual-core system to maximize space and shared facilities for residents.
05
Strategically located near the Secretariat to challenge urban hierarchies and create dialogue.

The Skyscrap-per is located in downtown Yangon, Myanmar, and aims to tackle the increasing issue of homelessness in the area. The design provides a multi-functional tower that serves as a refuge for vulnerable communities. It promotes inclusivity and encourages social interaction among its residents. The concept focuses on flexibility, allowing individuals to take charge of their living spaces and create a stronger sense of community.

Ground Floor Integration

The ground floor, known as the "feet," connects the tower to the surrounding city. It is designed as a public space that facilitates interaction between residents and visitors. This area includes markets, urban farming sections, playgrounds, and resting spots. The layout encourages accessibility and creates a vibrant atmosphere, making it a hub for community engagement.

Residential Core

The central section of the Skyscrap-per is dedicated to housing residents. A dual-core system supports critical functions such as elevators, bathrooms, and kitchens. Surrounding these cores are shared facilities, including a school, treatment center, and water tank. This arrangement emphasizes the importance of communal well-being and maximizes the use of available space while fostering collaboration among residents.

Technical Roof Features

The roof serves important operational and sustainability purposes. A community-operated crane is featured in the design, helping transport newly constructed homes into the tower. In addition, sustainable elements such as humidity harvesting membranes and urban wind turbines are integrated. These features reflect a commitment to ecological responsibility, emphasizing the role of the tower in promoting sustainable living.

Architectural Context

Situated near the “Secretariat,” a significant colonial building in Yangon, the Skyscrap-per challenges traditional urban hierarchies. This location allows for interactions between the new structure and the historic site, enhancing the tower's role as a support system for marginalized communities. The design aims to reshape the urban narrative and strengthen the social framework of the city.

The roof, with its crane and sustainable features, highlights the project’s focus on community-driven solutions, ensuring ongoing interaction and adaptation within the urban environment.

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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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