Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Opac Elements and Winter Gardens Transforming High-Rise Offices into Vibrant Residential Spaces

Authors:
Marius Muehleisen, Antonia Grohmann, Sebastian Reinicke
Opac Elements and Winter Gardens Transforming High-Rise Offices into Vibrant Residential Spaces

Project in-detail

Integrating opac elements and winter gardens, the design transforms high-rise office buildings into functional residential spaces that promote community engagement and environmental sustainability.
5 key facts about this project
01
Opac elements are incorporated to enhance privacy while allowing natural light to penetrate.
02
Winter gardens provide communal outdoor spaces that promote social interaction among residents.
03
The project aims to create approximately 13,000 new homes from existing high-rise structures.
04
Adaptive reuse minimizes construction waste and maximizes sustainability in urban development.
05
A proposed CO2 tax supports economic viability for social housing adaptations.

The design seeks to address the current housing shortage in urban areas, specifically by converting existing office buildings in London into residential units. This idea is timely, given the rise in remote work. With more people working from home, there is a growing need for flexible housing options that fit modern lifestyles. The project aims to reshape how urban spaces are used, focusing on both living and community interaction.

Design Concept

The main aim is to use former office spaces as homes, making them adaptable to various living arrangements. This approach can meet the needs of different residents, especially in a city where housing costs are high. By creating flexible layouts, the design intends to foster a sense of community. Shared spaces will encourage social interactions while providing residents with a comfortable environment.

Natural Elements

Integrating natural light and open areas is essential to the design. The proposal includes features like winter gardens and communal outdoor spaces. These elements not only improve visual appeal but also enhance the well-being of residents. Sunlight and greenery can uplift spirits, making living spaces more inviting. The design helps to create environments that feel open and connected to nature.

Sustainability and Structure

A key factor in the project is how it plans to use existing structures. By converting several high-rise office buildings, the design could create about 13,000 new homes. This approach helps reduce waste since it reuses what is already there. It emphasizes sustainability by including specific features, such as opac elements, which help manage energy use effectively. Balancing practical living needs with environmental considerations is a major focus.

Potential for Economic Viability

The project also considers economic aspects, suggesting a CO2 tax as a way to support social housing adaptations. This financial strategy offers a practical viewpoint on how to make the project realistic. It points to the importance of combining urban development with responsibility toward the environment and society.

The design encourages connections among residents through thoughtfully placed communal spaces. These areas serve as a way to bring people together while still providing moments of privacy. This balance between community and personal space is key to creating a welcoming environment for everyone.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge
Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #4
MICROHOME
MICROHOME
100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy