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Foldable Spaces Crafted with Recycled Canvas and Bamboo Sticks

Authors:
Denisse Alanís quiroz, Brenda anette Cuellar villaseñor, Diego elías Treviño juaréz, Emilio Medrano cantú
Foldable Spaces Crafted with Recycled Canvas and Bamboo Sticks

Project in-detail

Featuring folding surfaces made from recycled canvas and bamboo sticks, the design creates flexible living spaces that adapt to the needs of its occupants in a tropical environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Recycled polyethylene canvas enables lightweight and adaptable surfaces.
02
Bamboo sticks provide durable structural support while highlighting local materials.
03
Folding design creates flexible living spaces that can expand or contract.
04
Strategic ventilation methods enhance comfort in a humid tropical climate.
05
Modular arrangement allows rooms to shift function based on user needs.

The Origami House showcases a unique approach to residential design in a tropical setting. Its layout responds intelligently to the challenges of climate while focusing on flexibility and adaptability. The concept involves folding surfaces that create functional spaces, which can change depending on the needs of the residents. This design maximizes available space and maintains a connected relationship between the inside and outside.

Materials and Sustainability

A careful choice of materials plays a significant role in the design. Recycled polyethylene canvas is used for its light weight and environmental benefits. Bamboo sticks form the backbone of the structure, blending traditional building techniques with modern requirements for durability. Fabric mesh enhances the design by allowing natural light to enter while providing a link to the surrounding environment.

Ventilation and Climate Adaptation

The design strategically enhances ventilation to combat the humid climate. The folding surfaces serve multiple purposes, not only creating useful spaces but also ensuring good airflow throughout the house. This approach to passive cooling addresses the specific needs of living in a tropical location, making the interior space more comfortable.

Modularity and Spatial Flexibility

Inside, the layout emphasizes modularity, offering spaces that can be easily reconfigured as required. This design allows rooms to shift in function based on daily activities, contributing to a more flexible living experience. Such adaptability makes the home responsive to its occupants, allowing it to evolve with their needs over time.

The arrangement of folds in the exterior creates an interplay of light and shadow inside, inviting the natural world into the living areas while defining each space within a cohesive architectural structure.

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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

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