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Community Living Enhanced Through Cross-Laminated Timber and Vertical Gardens

Authors:
Marcela Olmos pérez, Alvaro Araico castant, Santiago Jiménez labora prieto, Andres De la garma valenzuela
Community Living Enhanced Through Cross-Laminated Timber and Vertical Gardens

Project in-detail

Cross-laminated timber structures support vertical living spaces interwoven with community gardens, creating an adaptable environment that fosters communal interaction and sustainability.
5 key facts about this project
01
Cross-laminated timber panels enhance structural efficiency and sustainability.
02
Vertical gardens integrated into the design promote community involvement and biodiversity.
03
Flexibility in occupancy allows for diverse living arrangements within the same structure.
04
Multiple public amenities are centrally located for easy access by all residents.
05
The design utilizes rainwater harvesting systems to support sustainable living practices.

The project showcases an innovative approach to affordable housing situated within a modern urban context focused on adaptability. The design merges public and private spaces to enhance community interaction while attending to the varied needs of residents. By acknowledging the surrounding urban structure, the project aims to establish a harmonious connection with its environment.

Design Concept

The aim is to create a vertical community where public spaces extend beyond the ground level. This arrangement encourages connections among residents, making it easier to engage with each other. The design moves away from traditional layouts, instead favoring a more dynamic organization that enhances accessibility and encourages use of shared areas.

Occupancy Typologies

The flexibility of occupancy types plays an important role in this design, allowing it to serve a diverse population. Housing options include individual, dual, family, and shared units, each catered to different living arrangements. For example, family units are designed to have two private bedrooms along with dedicated service areas, while individual and dual units focus on ensuring personal space while still promoting connection to communal resources.

Sustainability Features

Sustainability is a key aspect of the design. It includes features such as solar panels, rainwater collection systems, and community gardens. These elements support residents in becoming more self-sufficient, decreasing their need for traditional urban services. This focus on sustainability aims not only to meet immediate housing needs but also to consider long-term environmental impacts.

Materials and Amenities

The design employs cross-laminated timber for structural components, known for its durability and potential environmental benefits. Cross-laminated panels facilitate effective construction while remaining lightweight. Additionally, essential community amenities are integrated throughout the design, including a library, health clinic, grocery store, school, daycare, gym, and coffee shop.

Windows are carefully placed to ensure ample natural light throughout each unit. This enhances the living experience and prioritizes energy efficiency, creating a welcoming atmosphere for all residents.

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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
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