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Elevated Green Spaces with Flexible Modular Units for Community Exchange

Authors:
Emmanuel Suárez, Juan manuel Blanco peralta, Ignacio Tarda
Elevated Green Spaces with Flexible Modular Units for Community Exchange

Project in-detail

Elevated green spaces integrated with flexible modular units create a dynamic environment for community exchange and self-cultivation.
5 key facts about this project
01
Flexible modular units enable quick reconfiguration for various community needs.
02
Elevated green spaces enhance local biodiversity and provide recreational areas.
03
Rainwater collection systems nourish vegetation within each module.
04
Design promotes self-cultivation and local economic exchange through communal spaces.
05
Dynamic architecture encourages user interaction and active participation.

Cajita is a design that emphasizes adaptability and modularity in an urban context. It serves as a refuge, exploring how architecture can change based on the activities that take place within its spaces. The design fosters a relationship between the built environment and its users, allowing for continuous evolution and responsiveness to changing needs.

Modularity

The core of Cajita is its flexible modular system. This system enables the spaces to be shaped according to how people move and interact. The modular units are designed to be dynamic, changing their configuration as required by occupants. They are not static components but rather parts of a living environment, facilitating engagement and making optimal use of space over time.

Green Integration

Another important feature of Cajita is the inclusion of elevated green spaces. These areas enhance connections to nature and encourage urban biodiversity. By reinterpreting public spaces to incorporate greenery, the design promotes communal interaction. This decision enriches the overall environment, creating a relationship between architecture and nature that contributes to both function and aesthetics.

Water Conservation

An innovative approach to water conservation is also evident in the design. Each module incorporates systems for collecting and recirculating rainwater. This feature supports sustainability by nourishing green elements within the structure. The effective management of water resources reflects a modern understanding of environmental responsibilities, addressing concerns that are increasingly important in today’s world.

Community Engagement

Cajita emphasizes community involvement through designated areas for self-cultivation and exchange. These spaces allow residents to produce, buy, and sell goods locally. By providing a setting for social interaction and supporting local economies, the design fosters a vibrant public atmosphere. The inclusion of a fair and garden brings life to the building, highlighting how architecture can encourage community ties.

The design invites users to inhabit the space actively. It encourages movement and allows for reconfiguration, adapting to meet diverse needs. Each modular unit is capable of supporting different functions, demonstrating a thoughtful response to contemporary challenges in urban living. The result is a structure that is both functional and engaging, inviting ongoing participation from its users.

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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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