Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Sustainable Living Through Painted Plasterboard Cutouts and Sawtooth Roofing in Modular Community Housing

Authors:
Chukang Liang, Hanzhe Zhang
Sustainable Living Through Painted Plasterboard Cutouts and Sawtooth Roofing in Modular Community Housing

Project in-detail

With a facade of painted plasterboard cutouts and a sawtooth roof design maximizing solar gain, the community housing initiative fosters sustainable living while promoting social interaction through its modular configuration.
5 key facts about this project
01
Painted plasterboard cutouts enhance natural light penetration and create visually appealing patterns.
02
Sawtooth roof design optimizes solar energy capture and improves thermal performance.
03
Modular construction allows for flexible layouts to accommodate diverse family needs.
04
Ground-level communal spaces encourage resident interaction and community engagement.
05
Integration of eco-friendly materials supports sustainability and energy efficiency throughout.

### Overview
The Sunflower Community is strategically located to address the pressing needs of residents affected by conflict and economic distress. The design aims to foster a sense of unity and belonging within a framework of resilience and sustainability, employing a sunflower motif as a symbol of optimism and vitality. Through its innovative approach, the project endeavors to revitalize the surrounding area and enhance community participation.

### Spatial Strategy and Community Engagement
The architectural layout prioritizes communal interaction through dedicated ground-level spaces, including markets, community rooms, and playgrounds. These areas are designed with accessibility in mind, facilitating social cohesion and engagement among residents. The modular design of the housing units allows for flexibility in space usage, enabling adaptation to changing community needs while encouraging a participatory approach to living environments.

### Materiality and Sustainability
The selection of materials reflects a commitment to sustainability and function. Features such as painted plasterboard and expanded polystyrene insulation contribute to thermal regulation and lightweight construction. Additionally, glass panels enhance natural light and views across living spaces, while aluminum frames provide structural reinforcement. The building's sawtooth roof is engineered to maximize solar energy capture, thus promoting energy efficiency and reducing reliance on artificial lighting. The overall design prioritizes resilience by incorporating elements that withstand natural disasters and create safe egress routes 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