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Flexible Living Spaces Enhanced by Natural Light and Prefabricated Elements

Authors:
Siyka Georgieva, Katia Al chosmpan or al hussban
Flexible Living Spaces Enhanced by Natural Light and Prefabricated Elements

Project in-detail

Utilizing prefabricated elements and abundant natural light, the design fosters adaptable living environments that encourage community interaction in an urban setting.
5 key facts about this project
01
Flexible communal spaces adapt for various activities through movable partitions.
02
Natural light is maximized with strategic ceiling heights and openings.
03
The building incorporates prefabricated elements for efficient construction.
04
Urban greenscapes are integrated to enhance residents' connection to nature.
05
Designed for diverse demographics with dedicated family, couple, and single units.

Youtopia is a co-living space located in the busy area of San Lorenzo in Rome. It aims to create a supportive environment for people living in cities where loneliness is common. The design reflects a focus on human needs, encouraging social connections among residents. By rethinking how living spaces are arranged, Youtopia presents a solution to urban issues and aims to improve the quality of life for its inhabitants.

Design Concept

The concept behind Youtopia involves using abandoned urban spaces to create a new kind of living environment. By applying infill and lifted community strategies, the project seeks to utilize lower site costs while integrating these spaces into a unified design. This approach allows a natural flow between private and communal areas, balancing individual living with shared experiences.

Spatial Organization

The layout of Youtopia includes various private living units, designed to cater to the needs of families, couples, and singles. This thoughtful organization provides multiple housing options within the same building, enabling residents to choose according to their own requirements. Each unit is planned to ensure comfort and practicality, allowing people to make the space their own while still being part of a larger community.

Community Interaction

Communal spaces are central to the design of Youtopia, encouraging residents to connect with one another. Features like movable partitions and flexible furniture make these areas adaptable, supporting different activities and gatherings. The intention is to foster a community atmosphere where individuals can easily engage with their neighbors and form meaningful relationships, addressing the social isolation that can come with urban living.

Well-Being and Nature

A key focus of Youtopia is to enhance the well-being of its residents through design. Ample natural light, suitable ceiling heights, and thoughtful color choices contribute to a lively and comfortable environment. Additionally, the project integrates greenery into communal areas, providing a refreshing contrast to the urban setting. These design choices not only promote mental health but also encourage a connection with nature.

The building incorporates prefabricated elements and perforated sheets. These materials add to the overall structure while also improving its appearance. Such choices allow for a flexible organization of spaces, enabling the building to adapt and respond to the needs of its inhabitants over time.

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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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