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Elevated Co-Living Above Historic Canals with Flexible Ground Interaction

Author:
Pei-Shin (phoebe) Ou-Yang
Elevated Co-Living Above Historic Canals with Flexible Ground Interaction

Project in-detail

Elevated above the historic Canal Saint-Martin, the co-living units incorporate flexible ground spaces that foster community engagement while utilizing the surrounding waterways for sustainable transportation.
5 key facts about this project
01
Elevated co-living units provide direct views of the Canal Saint-Martin.
02
Ground floors are designed for flexible community uses and events.
03
Integrated water taxis offer sustainable transportation options.
04
Housing units feature diverse typologies to accommodate various residents.
05
Piloti design creates an open and accessible environment beneath the homes.

The design focused on the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris aims to breathe new life into the area while addressing housing needs and encouraging community interaction. Located within a historic waterway, the project offers a fresh approach to urban living. It combines shared co-living spaces with sustainable transportation options, creating a setting for residents to connect with each other and their environment.

Co-Living Spaces

Strips of co-living units are proposed along Boulevard Jules Ferry and Boulevard Richard-Lenoir. These structures can accommodate 25 to 30 housing units, designed with various layouts to meet the needs of different residents. The buildings are elevated on piloti, allowing for an open ground floor that facilitates interaction between public and private areas. This elevation not only connects residents with their neighborhoods but also creates space for community activities and gatherings on the ground level.

Ground Floor Interaction

The ground floor is important for community engagement. It features an open layout that allows for diverse uses. This design makes the area an inviting hub where residents and visitors can engage with one another. The unobstructed space encourages pedestrian activity, strengthening social ties and creating a shared sense of belonging. It enhances the overall urban experience by providing direct access to a lively streetscape.

Sustainable Transportation

An important element of the plan involves using water taxis as a form of transportation. By utilizing the existing underground waterways, this approach offers an alternative to surface traffic. It addresses urban congestion and highlights the canal's historical significance. The waterway provides efficient commuting options, reinforcing the canal's role in the city's infrastructure.

The design emphasizes modern urban living while preserving the rich historical context of the canal. Elevated housing units provide views of the lively streets and the waterway, connecting residents to the city’s past and present.

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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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