Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Social Housing Grid Integrating Shared Roof Spaces and Community Parks

Author:
Cassandre Epinat
Social Housing Grid Integrating Shared Roof Spaces and Community Parks

Project in-detail

A large grid structure throughout Berlin incorporates social housing with shared roof spaces and preserved communal parks, addressing the need for affordable living in an increasingly dense urban environment.
5 key facts about this project
01
A grid layout optimizes land use while ensuring connectivity among housing units.
02
Shared roof spaces are designed for community gatherings and social interactions.
03
The project preserves existing parks, maintaining essential green spaces in the urban environment.
04
Building heights vary to create a dynamic skyline while promoting solar access.
05
Local stakeholders are engaged in land-use decisions to foster community involvement.

The design features a large grid structure that integrates social housing into the urban layout of Berlin. The project aims to address housing needs by creating affordable living spaces placed at strategic locations throughout the city. Each building in the grid replaces existing structures, promoting a consistent approach to tackling the city’s housing issues. This strategy engages local communities in decisions about land use, making the project both functional and socially responsible. The design also emphasizes the importance of communal spaces and parks within the urban setting.

Grid Structure and Layout

The grid system extends across the city, intentionally avoiding existing buildings to maintain a clear and organized arrangement. This careful planning ensures better connectivity and access, allowing residents to easily navigate through the area. Essential parks are included in the framework, highlighting their role as necessary recreational spaces. These green areas offer residents a break from urban density and contribute to the overall well-being of the community.

HANSAVIERTEL Integration

Central to the layout is HANSAVIERTEL, recognized as a significant modern heritage site. Integrating the grid into this historical context helps maintain the architectural character of the neighborhood. The design includes shared roof spaces, allowing residents to enjoy wide views of the surrounding city while encouraging social interaction among neighbors. These shared areas foster a sense of community and provide opportunities for gatherings.

Interior-Exterior Relationship

The design creates a meaningful contrast between the size of the buildings’ exteriors and the scale of their interiors. Externally, the structures present a noticeable presence in the city’s skyline. Internally, the spaces are designed to feel welcoming and comfortable. This thoughtful balance enhances both functionality and the experience of domestic life. Residents benefit from environments that encourage warmth and connection, rather than sterile or impersonal spaces.

Community Interaction

The architecture promotes engagement with surrounding structures, fostering new relationships within the urban environment. Ground-level areas are designed with purpose, featuring covered spaces that cater to local needs and enhance the usability of the neighborhood. Such choices reflect an understanding of urban dynamics, where practical design enhances public life. These elements create inviting spaces that contribute to a sense of belonging among inhabitants.

The design facilitates urban living in Berlin, where shared roof spaces invite social interaction and offer views. This integration of communal and private spaces enriches the overall experience for residents.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

`
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

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
100,000€ Prize / 2025
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
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy