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Social Hub with Staggered Balconies and Cross Ventilation

Authors:
Eisha Nagpal, Sarmad Syed mohammed
Social Hub with Staggered Balconies and Cross Ventilation

Project in-detail

With a central social hub and staggered balconies that enhance cross ventilation, the design offers a community-focused residential environment that integrates seamlessly with the historic context of Essendon.
5 key facts about this project
01
Social hub designed to encourage resident interaction.
02
Staggered balconies enhance privacy and natural light.
03
Cross ventilation integrated throughout living spaces.
04
Landscapes created for communal enjoyment and aesthetics.
05
Variety of apartment heights to blend with urban context.

The Essendon neighborhood features a design that reflects its rich history while addressing modern housing needs. Located in an area that dates back to the 1850s, when it served as a passage for miners during the gold rush, the development mixes contemporary residential spaces with a connection to the past. The project focuses on a variety of apartments and townhouses that encourage community interaction, alongside commercial areas on the ground floor to enhance local activity and accessibility.

Design Concept

A key aspect of the design is the creation of a communal space that serves as a social hub for residents. This central feature invites people to come together, fostering interactions in a shared environment. The apartments are designed in various heights and lengths, accommodating different styles and preferences. This flexible approach allows the buildings to blend well with the existing urban landscape while promoting a sense of community.

Sustainability and Accessibility

The design prioritizes sustainability and aims to offer affordable housing that respects environmental concerns. Innovative building techniques support these goals, although specific materials are not detailed in the documentation. Natural light and ventilation are major considerations in the layout, which allows for fresh air and sunlight to flow through the living spaces. This focus on environmental quality contributes to a comfortable indoor atmosphere while reducing reliance on artificial lighting and climate control.

Outdoor Integration

Staggered patios and balconies extend living areas outside, offering residents a connection to nature and promoting a sense of openness. These outdoor spaces allow for views and light to enter, making homes feel more inviting. The landscaping around the buildings is designed to enhance air circulation, improving the outdoor experience and helping to create a pleasant atmosphere for all residents.

Community Considerations

The layout of shared spaces encourages community life while also protecting individual privacy. Fixed windows provide views of the landscaped areas, carefully maintaining visual separation between units. This attention to privacy helps support a comfortable living environment without sacrificing opportunities for social interaction.

Overall, the design emphasizes collaboration among residents through shared outdoor spaces that serve as natural gathering points. These elements come together to create a community-focused environment that respects the historical context of Essendon while looking towards the needs of future residents.

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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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