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Community Living Enhanced by a Green Floor and Shared Amenities

Author:
Anastasia Tokmakova
Community Living Enhanced by a Green Floor and Shared Amenities

Project in-detail

An upper-level green floor incorporates communal gardening alongside an open living room and playground, creating a multi-generational environment that fosters community interaction in an affordable residential setting.
5 key facts about this project
01
Community living spaces designed to enhance intergenerational connections.
02
Open living room area encourages social interaction among residents.
03
Playground incorporates climbing features for children’s engagement.
04
Upper-level green floor allows residents to cultivate plants for personal use.
05
Library with a telescope promotes learning and exploration among residents.

The COMMUNE project is located in Paris and addresses the pressing need for affordable housing in the urban landscape. It embodies the belief that everyone deserves access to proper living spaces. The design aims to build a community where multiple generations can live together through publicly-subsidized apartments tailored for various age groups and lifestyles. The focus is on nurturing social connections among residents.

Community Integration

The building stands on a 19 m by 19 m plot above a small park and contains twenty-five apartments. This layout encourages residents to live together harmoniously, reducing family stress while promoting interactions between older and younger community members. By incorporating these communal elements, the design works to strengthen the bonds within the neighborhood.

Shared Spaces

A central feature of the building is an open 'living room' that allows residents to gather. Here, they can share meals and spend time with one another. The small playground, complete with a climbing wall, swing, slide, and sandbox, serves as a safe zone for children. This space is designed for families to connect and interact, further enriching the communal experience.

Architectural Features

The five-story structure is notable for its distinct silhouette. The contextually inspired facades and roof outlines reflect the surrounding urban fabric, providing a recognizable identity. Its central location and accessibility via public transportation enhance the building's practicality for residents, making it convenient for daily activities and social interactions.

Green Elements

On the upper floor, the 'green floor' features an array of plants and trees that residents can cultivate for personal use. This encourages a relationship with nature, positively impacting the living environment. A library is also located on this floor, allowing residents to borrow and add to a collection of books. This creates a space that promotes learning. Additionally, a telescope encourages exploration and offers a new perspective on the world outside.

An outdoor terrace on the roof presents views of Paris and serves as a communal area. This space fosters connection among residents, making it a place where people can gather and enjoy the atmosphere of their surroundings.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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