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Community-Focused Green Spaces Within Modular Housing Solutions

Authors:
Orrin Goldsby, Shao-lun Chien
Community-Focused Green Spaces Within Modular Housing Solutions

Project in-detail

Modular housing solutions incorporate shared green spaces to enhance community interaction and cohesion, addressing the need for affordable living in San Francisco.
5 key facts about this project
01
Modular units designed to maximize available housing density.
02
Community green spaces foster resident interaction and social cohesion.
03
Adaptable façade reflects the diverse architectural styles of San Francisco.
04
Incorporation of shared yards transforms private outdoor areas into communal hubs.
05
Emphasis on environmental sustainability through accessible green areas.

San Francisco is currently facing a severe housing crisis marked by rising costs and social inequality. “San Francisco Housing for All” offers a solution that integrates affordable housing within the city’s existing urban framework. The design addresses critical housing needs while fostering community connections through a modular, multi-family dwelling concept that honors the historical and cultural context of the area.

Design Concept and Strategy
The focus is on developing modular multi-family units that increase housing capacity in a crowded city. By suggesting an increase in height limits in various neighborhoods, currently capped at 40 feet, the design aims to maximize available space for housing. This approach not only responds to the urgent demand for affordable housing but also revitalizes the urban landscape through careful architectural choices.

Integration of Community Spaces
A central idea of the design is the inclusion of shared spaces, which are essential for fostering social connections among residents from different backgrounds. The proposal features a central common green space and a community park, which provide gathering places for people. By creating accessible outdoor areas, the design helps to reduce social divides, offering important opportunities for community interaction that bring people together.

Architectural Language and Façade
The architectural style incorporates a façade that adapts to the unique characteristics of San Francisco’s neighborhoods. This flexibility is important for blending new buildings with the existing urban setting, ensuring they fit well with local architectural styles. By considering the local aesthetic, the design promotes acceptance and encourages engagement within the community, contributing to a more cohesive urban environment.

Environmental Sustainability
Attention to green spaces highlights a commitment to environmental care and the overall well-being of residents. The design includes communal gardens and landscaped areas that enhance the urban environment and provide necessary outdoor access. These green spaces act as gathering spots, encouraging social interaction and promoting a healthier lifestyle in the busy city setting.

The approach uses arranged pathways and community-focused features to deepen connections among residents. This effort serves as an important response to the housing challenges facing the city while enriching the social fabric for everyone living there.

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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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