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Modular Living Spaces with Heritage Integration in an Urban Setting

Authors:
Megan Westrop, Britani Browning
Modular Living Spaces with Heritage Integration in an Urban Setting

Project in-detail

A modular housing solution integrates seamlessly with heritage structures, offering customizable living spaces designed for sustainable urban living.
5 key facts about this project
01
Modular units allow for flexible customization based on resident needs.
02
Design adapts to integrate with existing heritage structures.
03
Each unit maximizes passive heating and cooling strategies.
04
Vertical configurations optimize space in urban settings.
05
Green spaces are intentionally incorporated into the overall layout.

The Melbourne Affordable Housing Project offers a fresh approach to addressing the need for adaptable and affordable housing in an urban context. Set in Melbourne, Australia, the project aims to provide flexible living arrangements that cater to diverse needs. The design resembles a formation of LEGO blocks, allowing residents to choose between one to three units, each serving as a complete living space with necessary amenities.

Modular Design Concept

The design focuses on a modular system, enabling customization of living spaces based on individual preferences. Each block functions as a standalone room, including a bedroom, kitchen, and living area. This setup promotes efficient use of space and allows for easy expansion as household needs change. Residents can easily reconfigure their living environments to match their evolving requirements.

Integration with Site Context

A significant aspect of the project is its integration with the surrounding site. The modular units can adapt to different landscapes, ensuring that the natural environment is respected and preserved. This flexibility allows for optimal use of natural light and reinforces passive heating and cooling strategies. The design also navigates around existing heritage structures, maintaining the historical context of the area while providing contemporary housing solutions.

Functional Layout and Sustainability

The layout within the modular blocks emphasizes practicality. One configuration showcases a two-bedroom arrangement with common living spaces on the lower level and additional bedrooms above. This vertical organization optimizes the use of space and enhances livability. Sustainability plays a key role in the design, encouraging the inclusion of green spaces that improve the urban environment and the well-being of residents.

Design Detail

Careful attention to detail is evident in the way building shapes and forms are created to respond to environmental needs. Each modular unit is designed to harness natural resources effectively. This attention to design enhances the connection between living spaces and their surroundings, creating a residential environment that is functional and responsive to its context.

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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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