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Modular Housing Solutions for Urban Communities

Authors:
Reem Abdelaal, Rui Zhang
Modular Housing Solutions for Urban Communities

Project in-detail

Constructed with modular, prefabricated units, the design offers adaptable housing solutions that enhance community engagement while addressing the urgent need for affordable living spaces in urban settings.
5 key facts about this project
01
Prefabricated units allow for rapid assembly and lower construction costs.
02
Flexible configurations enable accommodation for different family sizes.
03
Standardized extension modules can be easily added for customization.
04
Multifunctional spaces support community interaction and service integration.
05
Focus on affordability ensures units remain accessible to low-income households.

The project addresses a significant challenge in Toronto: the growing need for affordable housing. Located primarily in the Bay Street Corridor, it seeks to provide housing options that are accessible to a wide range of residents. The goal is to create units that cost no more than 30% of a household's monthly income. The design concept revolves around modular housing solutions that prioritize adaptability and community connection, offering a practical response to pressing housing issues.

Modular Framework

A key feature of the design is a modular framework built from prefabricated units. These units consist of multiple panels that can be easily assembled, which helps reduce both construction time and costs. This system supports various configurations, allowing units to be connected together. This flexibility makes it possible to accommodate families of different sizes and adapt living spaces as needs change over time.

Community Integration

The design goes beyond providing simply residential units. It includes multifunctional spaces that support recreation, commerce, and care services. This approach promotes a lively community environment. By integrating such diverse functions, the project encourages social interaction among residents and aims to enhance their overall quality of life.

Personalization and Adaptability

Another important element is the potential for personalization within each modular panel. Households can modify their living spaces to better fit their individual needs. There are opportunities to add standardized extension modules, which allow families to expand their homes with additional rooms or dedicated office spaces. This adaptability ensures that units can respond effectively to the evolving demands of each household.

The emphasis in the design is on fostering a sense of belonging within the urban fabric. By balancing affordability, functionality, and community-friendly features, the outcome is a practical solution for Toronto's housing market. The interconnected nature of the units, along with their versatile design, provides enhanced living environments while promoting meaningful connections among residents and their surroundings.

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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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