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Recycled Components and Community Spaces in Lightweight Mobile Living

Authors:
Miguel Valle, Laura Corradi, Melpomeni kyriaki Katharopoulou
Recycled Components and Community Spaces in Lightweight Mobile Living

Project in-detail

Lightweight structures crafted from recycled components create adaptable mobile living spaces that foster community interaction and support sustainable housing solutions.
5 key facts about this project
01
Lightweight structures promote easy relocation and adaptability.
02
Community spaces are integrated to encourage social interaction among residents.
03
The design prioritizes the use of recycled materials to minimize environmental impact.
04
Natural light is enhanced through strategically placed windows in the layout.
05
Compact living units maximize functionality without sacrificing comfort.

The architectural design focuses on the changing landscape of American housing by highlighting mobile homes and the tiny house movement. Located in urban environments, especially in cities like San Francisco, the project aims to provide practical alternatives to traditional housing. It emphasizes affordability and flexibility, with a design concept centered around mobility and the idea of living temporarily. This reflects modern needs for lightweight structures that can easily adapt to various contexts.

Historical Context

The design connects with the history of American architecture, linking contemporary mobile living to the nomadic practices of Native Americans and early pioneers. This historical connection adds depth to the understanding of today’s housing solutions, showing how the need for adaptable living spaces has always been part of the American experience. By recognizing these traditions, the design highlights the ongoing relevance of mobility in housing.

Community Integration

Another important aspect is the focus on community interaction within mobile living environments. The layouts are designed to create opportunities for residents to engage with each other while still offering private spaces for personal needs. These configurations encourage a sense of belonging and shared experiences, proving that mobile living can support strong community ties.

Material Selection

Lightweight and temporary materials are favored in the designs, aligning with the principles of mobility and simple assembly. While specific materials are not mentioned, the project suggests a preference for natural and recycled elements that reduce environmental impact. This choice reflects a commitment to sustainable practices that resonate with the broader goals of the tiny house movement, promoting minimalism and resource conservation.

User Experience

Incorporating personal stories from individuals living in RVs and tiny houses adds another layer to the project. These testimonials provide real-world insights into the benefits and challenges of mobile living. They emphasize how thoughtful design can improve the daily lives of residents, shedding light on the social dynamics present in these alternative housing situations.

The result is a design that considers both shared spaces and private areas, responding to the occupants’ needs while remaining adaptable in the evolving urban landscape. Each living unit reflects an understanding of how people choose to live today, balancing functionality and comfort in a practical approach to modern housing.

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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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