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Flexible Glazing and Insulated Panels Shape Multifunctional Community Living

Author:
Alexander Weiss
Flexible Glazing and Insulated Panels Shape Multifunctional Community Living

Project in-detail

Incorporating flexible glazing and insulated panels, the design enhances community living by merging private outdoor spaces with multifunctional shared areas in an urban setting.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates creativity rooms for community engagement and collaboration.
02
Features flexible glazing on balconies for year-round outdoor use.
03
Utilizes a lightweight steel framework for efficient assembly.
04
Minimizes building footprint to enhance ground-level public space.
05
Offers diverse housing options tailored for various demographics.

The project emphasizes a multifunctional approach to urban living, located in a public area of San Francisco. The overall design focuses on connecting residential units with existing recreational spaces, particularly those used for sports activities. This relationship not only reduces land costs but also enhances community engagement, creating a neighborhood that encourages interaction among residents and between residents and their surroundings.

Housing Program

The building includes a variety of housing options, featuring four distinct unit types designed to accommodate different needs. Type A units are 53 square meters and suitable for small families or home offices. Type B units, at 40 square meters, can serve couples or young professionals. Type C units, measuring 30 square meters, provide essential living space for couples without children. Finally, Type D units are 15 square meters and offer affordable housing for single residents like students or young professionals. By providing these diverse options, the design aims to foster an inclusive living environment for a broad spectrum of urban residents.

Community Spaces

Creativity Rooms are a key feature of the design, serving as shared spaces for various activities such as workshops, meetings, and recreational pursuits. These rooms promote social interaction and collaboration among residents, encouraging a sense of community. The emphasis on shared experiences aligns with the goal of building a supportive and interactive environment for all occupants.

Outdoor Amenities

Private outdoor spaces play an important role in the overall design, particularly with balconies that have flexible glazing. This feature allows residents to make use of their outdoor areas throughout the year, regardless of the weather. Balconies enhance the residential experience, allowing for direct interaction with the outdoors. The inclusion of planting boxes for small gardens further promotes sustainability and gives residents opportunities for personal expression in their living spaces.

Structural Approach

The structure uses a lightweight steel framework, which makes construction easier and more efficient. This method also allows for adaptability in response to changing urban conditions. Specific components include insulated sandwich panels for the exterior walls and roofs, while the flooring is created from wooden surfaces, cement board, sound insulation, and OSB board. Concrete towers are integrated into the design to provide vertical circulation. These towers house staircases and elevators, ensuring accessibility for all residents.

The design features expansive terraces that offer views of the adjacent sports fields. This aspect serves to enhance both the residential experience and public interaction, encouraging a lively connection between those who live in the building and the vibrant activities occurring in the surrounding area.

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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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