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Flexible Living Units with Integrated Furniture for Community Engagement

Authors:
Nicholas Hartman, Felix Dokonal, Victoria Restrepo Giraldo, Nina Allberg
Flexible Living Units with Integrated Furniture for Community Engagement

Project in-detail

Adapting to urban living, the design incorporates flexible units with integrated furniture that optimize space and foster community engagement, creating a practical solution for shared housing.
5 key facts about this project
01
Flexible living units expand or contract to meet user needs.
02
Integrated furniture optimizes space utilization within each unit.
03
Shared communal platforms enhance social interaction among residents.
04
Adaptable design allows integration into various urban settings.
05
Focus on efficient use of vacant urban spaces for housing solutions.

The SpaceShare design addresses the complexities of urban life in cities where space is limited. Situated in bustling city centers, the focus is on rethinking residential units to enhance their function and promote sharing among residents. The main idea centers on flexibility, allowing spaces to adapt to the diverse needs of users and their lifestyles.

Flexible Living Units

The design incorporates living units that can change in size based on user requirements. A standard 25 m² unit can expand to 50 m² or more, creating options for different living arrangements. This adaptability is important in urban areas where every square meter counts. It allows residents to use space more efficiently and responds to their daily activities.

Community Engagement Spaces

The design also features shared areas that encourage social interaction. These communal spaces invite residents to connect with one another, fostering a sense of community. By integrating these social environments into the design, the project seeks to combat the feelings of isolation often felt in city living, making the urban experience more enjoyable.

Innovative Space Optimization

One of the practical solutions in the design is the use of integrated furniture that folds into walls when not in use. This feature helps open up floor space, allowing residents to maximize their living areas. The approach promotes a clutter-free lifestyle where comfort and space are prioritized.

Space Integration and Contextual Adaptability

The units can be easily integrated into many urban settings, whether they are existing buildings, standalone sites, or vacant lots. This ability to adapt showcases how the design responds to the unique challenges presented by different urban environments. Each unit supports a practical solution to occupying space without losing the essence of community.

With a focus on dynamic living conditions and the freedom to adjust both private and shared spaces, the design ensures that every resident can customize their experience while living in a shared framework.

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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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