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Repurposed Silos for Community Living in Urban Regeneration

Authors:
Oh Juhyeon, Yang Geon
Repurposed Silos for Community Living in Urban Regeneration
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Repurposed silos offer innovative vertical living spaces that integrate community amenities, addressing affordable housing needs in Toronto’s urban landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Repurposed industrial silos are transformed into multi-functional living spaces.
02
The design includes communal amenities such as cafes and recreational areas.
03
Vertical land use maximizes housing density in an urban setting.
04
Affordable family units and shared housing options cater to diverse needs.
05
Located in Toronto's urban regeneration zones, enhancing community connections.

The design centers on the adaptation of urban silos in Toronto, Canada, to create affordable housing that responds to the city's increasing demand for living spaces. These structures, traditionally used for industrial purposes, are being reimagined as vibrant environments that encourage community interaction. The overall design concept emphasizes making effective use of vertical space to accommodate a variety of housing types alongside essential communal facilities.

Conceptual Framework

The approach focuses on the potential of silos to change from industrial relics into multifunctional living spaces. By transforming these structures, the design creates a blend of residential units and community amenities. The idea is to not only increase housing availability but also to promote connections among residents, fostering collaboration and a sense of belonging.

Design Layout

The internal arrangement features diverse housing options, including affordable family units and shared living spaces that meet the varied needs of people in Toronto. Communal spaces like cafes, libraries, and recreational areas are included to enhance everyday life for residents. The interconnected design allows for easy movement and interaction, creating an environment where residents can engage with one another and share resources.

Urban Integration

Located in less-dense factory areas and urban regeneration zones, such as the Lower Don Lands and Port Lands, the project is aligned with sustainable urban planning principles. The design makes use of vertical land, which supports higher housing density without expanding into new areas. This approach helps to revitalize the city by turning underused sites into functional living environments that serve the community well.

A unique aspect of the design is its focus on creating a community-centered living experience within the silos. Emphasizing adaptability, the project addresses housing challenges while enhancing urban life, framing a new chapter for residential spaces in Toronto.

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Enter an open architecture
competition now

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
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025

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

Open architecture competitions

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  • Project competitions first
    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
Denver Affordable Housing Challenge

AIA (American Institute of Architects) invites you to design affordable housing in Denver

Affordable Housing Series 19th Edition ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 2025

Recurring architecture competitions

The Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

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Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 18 September 2025
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
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Advance registration deadline 16 October 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 30 October 2025
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Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

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Final registration deadline 13 November 2025
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Final registration deadline 27 November 2025

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