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Enclosed Outdoor Zones with Modular Living Units for Affordable Housing

Author:
Angelica Ketcham
Enclosed Outdoor Zones with Modular Living Units for Affordable Housing

Project in-detail

Combining fully enclosed outdoor zones and modular living units, this design addresses affordable housing by fostering community interaction and private retreats within an urban landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Community-oriented design incorporates fully enclosed outdoor zones for all residents.
02
Each building features unique roof gardens and courtyards tailored to individual units.
03
The modular approach allows for flexibility in both living units and site conditions.
04
Inspired by the Toronto Distillery District, emphasizing simple elegance in form.
05
Integration of landscaping with parking solutions enhances the urban context.

The New Cherrm Apartments is located in Toronto, Ontario, and aims to provide affordable housing in an urban setting. Inspired by the Toronto Distillery District, the design emphasizes elegance and simplicity. The core concept revolves around creating outdoor spaces that cater to the needs of the residents while promoting a sense of community.

Design Concept

The design incorporates various outdoor spaces, including private, semiprivate, and public areas. This arrangement is designed to foster community interaction while ensuring that residents have their own private spaces. A fully enclosed outdoor zone serves as a communal area for all, encouraging gatherings and social activities. The inclusion of roof gardens and unique courtyards for each building also adds to the personal experience of living in the apartments.

Modular Approach

The New Cherrm Apartments utilize a modular design, offering flexibility in how living units are laid out. This adaptability extends to aspects like circulation, windows, and doors, allowing the project to fit different site conditions. Such a flexible approach is essential in urban areas where land use and available space can vary, ensuring that the design can meet the needs of diverse residents.

Integration with Urban Fabric

Emphasizing practicality, the design reflects the layout of traditional Toronto city blocks. This consideration allows landscaping and parking solutions to be integrated into the overall site plan. The thoughtful approach to urban context promotes both the functionality and aesthetic appeal of the project. By addressing these aspects, the development seeks to enhance the living experience for its residents.

The design's focus on providing an enclosed outdoor zone along with individual roof gardens shows a commitment to balancing private retreats and communal life. This encourages interaction among residents while also allowing for personal moments of peace.

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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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