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Pneumatic Facades and Compact Living Solutions in Urban Spaces

Author:
Haozhou Zeng
Pneumatic Facades and Compact Living Solutions in Urban Spaces

Project in-detail

Inflatable facades enhance compact living units by transforming underutilized urban walls into adaptable and affordable housing solutions in a dense city environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
Pneumatic facades create varying levels of transparency for enhanced visual appeal.
02
Utilizes a scaffolding system for flexible attachment to existing urban structures.
03
Designed to maximize compact living with studio and two-bedroom units.
04
Adapts to diverse site conditions, including courtyards and infill areas.
05
Emphasizes lightweight architecture for efficient use of urban space.

"Living In The Cloud" addresses the urgent issue of housing in cities like Paris. By converting unused blank walls into functional homes, the design tackles the need for affordable living space. The overall concept focuses on maximizing space and flexibility while providing practical solutions for urban dwellers.

Structural Framework

The design features a scaffolding system that attaches to existing walls. This arrangement allows for the creation of narrow living units that are user-friendly. The building includes both studio and two-bedroom apartments, organized with essential functions placed against the back wall. This layout optimizes available space, making it suitable for a variety of activities and lifestyles.

Pneumatic Facade System

A notable aspect of the design is its pneumatic façade system, which incorporates inflatable materials. These materials can be customized into different shapes, sizes, and colors. This approach allows for varying levels of transparency, creating visual interest while also increasing usable space within each unit. The inflatable facades provide a soft contrast to the solid walls inside, enhancing the overall appearance and functionality of the structure.

Adaptive Design

The ability to adapt is crucial in this design. It can easily fit into various site conditions, such as courtyards and gaps between buildings. This flexibility ensures that it meets the diverse needs of residents. By offering versatile living spaces, the design remains relevant in a fast-changing urban environment.

The thoughtful integration of structure and façade emphasizes a connection to the urban landscape. This innovative approach not only meets housing demands but also encourages a more sustainable and engaging living experience.

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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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