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Mealworm-Enabled Hydroponic Habitat Constructed with Recycled Plastic and Aerated Concrete

Author:
Pavels Vigo Birger Liepins Hedstrom
Mealworm-Enabled Hydroponic Habitat Constructed with Recycled Plastic and Aerated Concrete

Project in-detail

Utilizing recycled plastic and aerated concrete, a floating habitat integrates mealworm-based waste management and hydroponics to provide a sustainable living solution in an urban waterfront environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes recycled plastic as a primary building material for durability and sustainability.
02
Integrates a mealworm colony for on-site plastic waste management and compost production.
03
Features hydroponic systems allowing residents to grow food within the living space.
04
Constructed with aerated concrete panels to enhance thermal performance and buoyancy.
05
Floating design enables adaptability to fluctuating water levels in urban waterfronts.

## Overview

PLAST-X addresses the critical issue of plastic pollution in marine environments through an innovative architectural approach. The design is located in a future housing framework aimed at sustainable and adaptable living spaces. By utilizing recycled materials, the project emphasizes resource regeneration while responding to contemporary societal needs, reinforcing the significance of ecological awareness in architectural practice.

### Spatial Strategy and Resilience

The PLAST-X project features a compact, 25-square-meter living module designed to float on water, addressing the challenges posed by rising sea levels and potential flooding due to climate change. This buoyant structure exemplifies adaptability to fluctuating water levels, ensuring resilience in a dynamic environment. Moreover, the design incorporates vertical farming systems that support food production and security, utilizing mealworms that convert plastic waste into compost, thereby creating a closed-loop ecosystem.

### Materiality and Technological Integration

A key element of the PLAST-X design is the thoughtful selection of materials aimed at minimizing environmental impact. The main structural components include recycled plastic, wood products for interior resilience, and aerated concrete panels to enhance thermal efficiency. Solar panels provide renewable energy, while 3D printing technology allows for the fabrication of parts from recycled plastics, facilitating both creativity and rapid construction. This material combination not only ensures the structural integrity of the design but also reinforces a commitment to sustainability by promoting a circular economy within housing.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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