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Shipping Container Habitats Integrated with Rooftop Gardens for Flexible Urban Living

Authors:
David Gutierrez Schloss, Karine Salameh, Leza Raid Salim Zekar
Shipping Container Habitats Integrated with Rooftop Gardens for Flexible Urban Living

Project in-detail

Constructed from repurposed shipping containers and complemented by a rooftop garden, the design provides adaptable habitats that foster community engagement and urban living.
5 key facts about this project
01
Repurposes shipping containers into flexible housing units.
02
Incorporates rooftop gardens to enhance community interaction.
03
Features asymmetrical layouts for dynamic spatial organization.
04
Design allows for varied habitat configurations tailored to resident needs.
05
Utilizes sustainable materials to minimize environmental impact.

### Project Overview
Located at the Tislime Tram Depot in Maine, the initiative repurposes the existing structure to create modular housing units constructed from shipping containers. This approach aims to revitalize an abandoned site while providing adaptable and affordable living solutions to address the burgeoning demand for flexible housing options.

### Spatial Strategy and Community Interaction
The site layout optimizes physical and social interactions among residents. The design features an arrangement of habitats that generates open spaces conducive to pedestrian flow and communal gatherings. A notable element is the rooftop garden, designed to support urban agriculture and serve as a focal point for social interaction. The asymmetrical organization of the modular units creates a dynamic interplay of volumes and voids, fostering an informal yet cohesive community atmosphere.

### Material Selection and Sustainability
The primary material utilized in the project comprises shipping containers, highlighting a commitment to sustainability through the reuse of materials. This choice reduces the carbon footprint associated with conventional construction methods. The structural integrity is enhanced with steel frameworks, while glass facades allow for natural light and visual connectivity to the outdoors. Complementing these materials, wood decking adds warmth to communal spaces, and concrete elements ensure durability, contributing to a well-rounded material palette that defines the project’s aesthetic and functional qualities.

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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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