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Community Living Enhanced by Historical Context and Natural Light

Authors:
Rafael Gomez duran, Felipe Barragán, Sebastian Hernandez, Laura Pineda guacaneme
Community Living Enhanced by Historical Context and Natural Light

Project in-detail

Rooted in the historical context of London mews, the linear arrangement of residential units maximizes natural light and accessibility, fostering community interaction in an affordable living environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Linear arrangement enhances light and improves spatial efficiency.
02
Community spaces encourage social interactions among residents.
03
Design maintains the historical footprint of traditional mews properties.
04
Vertical circulation points increase accessibility throughout the units.
05
Strategic location provides easy access to parks and public transport.

The project reinterprets traditional mews properties in London and is designed to meet modern residential needs. It emphasizes a blend of historical architecture and contemporary living requirements. The goal is to create a comfortable, affordable environment while promoting social interaction among residents.

Concept and Layout

The concept focuses on providing affordable housing that is functional and conducive to community building. The design features a linear arrangement of residential units, which allows for efficient use of space. This layout helps tackle the challenge of finding budget-friendly homes that offer a decent living experience. Vertically integrated circulation points enhance accessibility throughout the structure, allowing ample natural light to enter the living areas.

Preservation of Historical Context

One of the key aspects is maintaining the historical character of mews properties. The modern design respects the traditional footprint and look of these buildings while allowing for updates that improve their usability. This balance preserves both the cultural significance of mews architecture and the practical needs of contemporary homeowners.

Community Engagement

Incorporating communal spaces is critical to the design, reflecting the value of social interaction in residential areas. These shared areas are intended to mimic the social dynamics of original mews layouts, encouraging residents to engage with one another while ensuring they can still enjoy their privacy. This approach aims to build a strong sense of community in urban settings, enriching the overall living experience for everyone involved.

Strategic Location

The proposed mews units are thoughtfully situated to ensure residents can easily access essential amenities, including parks and public transportation. This deliberate decision enhances the daily lives of those who live there. By placing residential spaces within the broader urban landscape, the design manages to satisfy the needs of modern city life while respecting the historical roots of the mews neighborhood.

The design includes a façade that reflects traditional mews aesthetics while allowing for practical enhancements that improve light and air flow throughout the interiors.

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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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