Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Core-Centered Design Embracing Nature with Flexible Workshop Spaces

Authors:
Ioana otilia Popescu, Madalina Facaeru, Alexandra Moise, Carolina Zecheru
Core-Centered Design Embracing Nature with Flexible Workshop Spaces

Project in-detail

With a central core that harmonizes light and nature, this small house incorporates flexible workshop spaces designed for two families to cultivate both privacy and community.
5 key facts about this project
01
Core design maximizes natural light and integrates vegetation.
02
Flexible sliding doors enhance adaptability between private and communal spaces.
03
Inner courtyard provides a unique private workspace for each family.
04
The layout promotes strong community interaction without sacrificing privacy.
05
Connection with surrounding nature strengthens the overall living experience.

The design presents a small house for two families, thoughtfully situated within a natural landscape. Its primary aim is to foster strong connections among the residents through its layout. The overall concept revolves around a mostly square shape, with a central "core" serving as the main focus for both functionality and aesthetics.

Core Integration
-
At the center of the house is the core, which brings in elements of natural light and greenery from outside. This feature helps create a link between the indoors and the surrounding environment. The inclusion of these natural elements enriches the living experience and promotes a sense of comfort for those living in the space.

Spatial Design
-
The layout includes a front section with communal areas, such as the kitchen and living room. This arrangement encourages family interactions and shared activities, supporting a sense of community among the residents. Surrounding these shared spaces is an inner courtyard, bordered by workshops. This design allows for both privacy and usability, making it suitable for day-to-day living.

Flexibility of Spaces
-
Sliding doors are used to create flexibility within the work areas. This allows residents to adjust the setup based on their needs, making it easy to shift from private work to communal gatherings. The thoughtful design promotes a balance between personal and shared spaces, lending versatility to how the house can be used.

Connection to Nature
-
The design takes inspiration from its natural surroundings, creating a feeling of being embraced by the environment. This connection enhances daily life and enriches the experience of living in the house. The combination of private work areas and communal spaces works well, allowing residents to enjoy the surrounding nature while still feeling at home.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy