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Reconfigurable Micro Homes With Vertical Gardens For Urban Living

Author:
Kathryn Larkin
Reconfigurable Micro Homes With Vertical Gardens For Urban Living

Project in-detail

With a reconfigurable framing system and integrated vertical gardens, the design offers adaptable micro homes that address urban housing affordability challenges while promoting sustainable living solutions.
5 key facts about this project
01
Reconfigurable external framing system allows for site-specific adaptation.
02
Hybrid ownership model enables initial placement on leased land.
03
Vertical gardens enhance biodiversity and improve air quality.
04
Compliance with transportation regulations facilitates easy relocation.
05
Integrated solar panels support renewable energy use for residents.

The design focuses on creating micro homes that tackle the issue of housing affordability in Melbourne. Designed for first-time home buyers, these homes aim to deliver efficient and adaptable living solutions. The overall concept reinterprets micro living, making use of a framework that allows for flexibility in response to varying urban environments. This ensures that the homes can remain functional and relevant as city landscapes change.

Framework and Adaptability

A key feature of the design is a reconfigurable external framing system. This system is important for connecting the micro homes to their surroundings. It allows the homes to adjust to different site conditions, enabling relocation without sacrificing stability. By prioritizing adaptability, the design enhances the functionality of these living spaces, reflecting the need for practical solutions in urban dwellings.

Ownership Model

The project introduces a hybrid home ownership model, providing an option for individuals to place their micro homes on leased land initially. This model creates a pathway for potential homeowners struggling with high land prices. Once residents secure their own property, the homes can be relocated and adapted to fit new environments, highlighting a commitment to long-term flexibility in housing design.

Functional Features

Various functional elements are integrated into the design. These include vertical shading, vertical gardens, horizontal shading, seating areas, and solar panels. Such features not only improve the visual appeal of the homes but also support sustainable living practices. Vertical gardens enhance local biodiversity, while solar panels provide renewable energy sources, aligning the homes with current environmental concerns.

Spatial Compliance

The micro homes meet regulations surrounding the transportation of houses in Victoria. This ensures that they conform to size limits set for mobility. Such compliance makes it easy to move these homes as needed. The dimensions are carefully planned to maintain structural integrity and provide practical accommodations for city residents, emphasizing the design's focus on space efficiency.

The addition of vertical gardens and solar panels plays a significant role in enhancing the sustainability of the homes. This creates a living environment that not only serves individual needs but also benefits the wider community.

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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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