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Stacked Family Units with Private Gardens in an Urban Setting

Author:
David Windt
Stacked Family Units with Private Gardens in an Urban Setting

Project in-detail

Stacked family units incorporate private gardens and green spaces in Berlin's urban landscape, aiming to address affordable housing needs while promoting community interaction and sustainable living.
5 key facts about this project
01
Stacked family units enhance land use efficiency in urban areas.
02
Private gardens integrate greenery into the residential experience.
03
Sustainable water management solutions address urban flooding.
04
Semi-public spaces foster community interaction among residents.
05
Design aligns with Berlin's existing architectural morphology.

The design addresses the critical issue of affordable housing in Berlin by creating functional living spaces suitable for families. The focus is on maximizing urban space while ensuring that homes remain accessible. The concept revolves around stacked family homes, offering a practical solution in a city where housing prices can escalate due to increasing demand. The thoughtful arrangement of these homes aims to connect residents with their environment and each other, reducing the negative impacts of investment-driven housing trends.

Stacked Family Homes

The arrangement consists of stacked family homes that efficiently use vertical space. Each unit is structured to provide privacy while promoting a sense of community. By optimizing the layout, the design creates a peaceful residential atmosphere amidst the bustling urban setting. The varying heights and alignments of the structures contribute to the overall aesthetic, reflecting Berlin’s architectural character.

Private Gardens and Green Spaces

Private gardens and semi-public green spaces are incorporated into the design, enhancing the living experience. These outdoor areas serve as essential extensions of the homes, providing space for families to relax, play, and interact with neighbors. They also serve a practical role, contributing to local biodiversity. This incorporation of nature in an urban context enriches both the environment and community life.

Sustainable Water Management

The project employs several strategies for sustainable water management. Underground water storage systems are designed to capture and manage rainwater. This approach reduces the risk of flooding while also supporting the natural landscape. Such systems contribute to the overall quality of living conditions within the development and encourage environmentally responsible practices.

Quality Over Cost

The design prioritizes quality in living environments, moving away from the trend of low-cost, modular housing that often compromises family needs. Each element of the project is crafted with attention to detail, fostering spaces that families can enjoy for years. The emphasis on well-designed homes with adequate outdoor spaces demonstrates a commitment to creating meaningful living experiences for residents.

The layout features terraces that extend the living areas outward, connecting interior spaces to the outdoors. This detail encourages families to engage with their surroundings and enhances the overall living experience.

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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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