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Microhomes on Rooftops with Mycelium Façades for Urban Integration

Authors:
Katarina deandra wulandari Jauw, Joshua henrique Holetz, Louise marie monique Spisser, Cynthia Bruinsma
Microhomes on Rooftops with Mycelium Façades for Urban Integration

Project in-detail

Microhomes made of mycelium façades are integrated onto rooftops in The Hague, addressing urban housing needs while promoting environmentally conscious living solutions.
5 key facts about this project
01
Microhomes are designed to be fully integrated into existing rooftops, minimizing visual impact.
02
Mycelium is used as a façade material, emphasizing sustainability and environmental sensitivity.
03
The layout promotes flexibility, allowing residents to customize their living experience.
04
Access is provided through existing common staircases, preserving ground-level integrity.
05
The project addresses urban housing needs while maintaining the character of the neighborhood.

The design focuses on integrating microhomes into the urban setting of The Hague, Netherlands. It aims to tackle housing shortages while addressing issues of geographical segregation. The concept of MYCORRHIZA draws inspiration from nature, where collaboration leads to mutual benefits. The project features microhomes that are discreetly placed, enhancing the neighborhood's character while providing much-needed housing.

Design Concept

The design emphasizes the idea of symbiosis, creating a relationship between the microhomes and the surrounding environment. Located on rooftops, these homes appear like small structures situated between inclined roofs. This careful positioning helps keep them out of sight from street view while making use of space that is often overlooked.

Interior Arrangement

Inside the microhomes, the layout is thoughtfully planned. Essential living elements are incorporated into walls and floors, allowing for efficient space use. This flexibility enables residents to customize their living areas according to their preferences. The arrangement promotes a sense of individuality while also challenging traditional residential designs.

Access and Environmental Integration

Access to these homes is provided by common staircases, which helps maintain the integrity of the ground level. This design choice limits the construction's impact on the surrounding area, making it easier for residents to feel part of the larger community. The project successfully addresses urban housing challenges without altering the existing landscape significantly.

Materiality

The façade of the microhomes features mycelium, a material that connects to the project’s central theme of collaboration while highlighting sustainability. This choice not only enhances the building's performance but also reflects modern ecological approaches in design. Using mycelium as outer covering demonstrates a commitment to reducing environmental effects while providing a practical and appealing aesthetic.

The overall design emphasizes the potential for microhomes to change urban living. It offers solutions that consider both personal needs and community dynamics, promoting a new way of thinking about housing in urban areas.

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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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