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Elevated Living Spaces Crafted from Shipping Containers with Sustainable Wall Panels

Authors:
Kareem Omar Abdelmonem Bolbol, Aldina Xhelaj, Sarah Omar Abdelmoneim Bolbol
Elevated Living Spaces Crafted from Shipping Containers with Sustainable Wall Panels

Project in-detail

Elevated structures constructed from shipping containers and enhanced with sustainable wall panels create a flood-resilient community focused on shared living and self-sufficiency.
5 key facts about this project
01
Elevated on pillars, the homes provide flood protection while enabling under-home gardening.
02
Constructed primarily from recycled shipping containers, promoting sustainability and reducing waste.
03
The U-shaped layout fosters social interaction and creates communal gathering spaces.
04
Rainwater harvesting systems are integrated, enhancing water management and self-sufficiency.
05
Solar panels are incorporated into the design, supporting renewable energy use for the community.

## Project Overview
Set in a context of increasing urban density and climate challenges, the U-Shaped Flood-Resilient Community offers an architectural solution focused on resilience and community cohesion. Designed with a U-shaped configuration, the project emphasizes sustainable living, self-sufficiency, and meaningful human interaction, aiming to create an integrated community environment.

### Architectural Layout and Community Integration
The U-shaped arrangement of the living units is strategically developed to facilitate social interaction while maximizing the use of shared spaces. This layout not only promotes the formation of social bonds but also organizes clusters of tiny houses in a manner that encourages communal engagement. Central areas are designed as inviting hubs for gatherings, fostering collective experiences that enhance community life. Common spaces are flexible, adaptable for various functions, and are central to the project's aim of building strong interpersonal relationships among residents.

### Flood Resilience and Sustainable Practices
This initiative incorporates advanced flood resilience strategies, most notably through the elevation of homes on pillars, which mitigates flood risk while contributing to a sustainable living environment. The design allows for under-home farming, promoting self-sufficiency and creating opportunities for sustainable practices. Complementing this approach, features such as rainwater harvesting systems and solar panel installations support efficient resource management, ensuring that residents can thrive sustainably. Material selections—ranging from recyclable shipping containers to eco-friendly wall panels—further emphasize the commitment to sustainability, reflecting a careful consideration of environmental impact and resource utilization throughout the construction process.

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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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