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 Recycled Wood and Community Gardens

Authors:
Hsuan Pi, Anbin Liu, Louise Villalta, Eric Chen
Sustainable Living Through Recycled Wood and Community Gardens

Project in-detail

Incorporating fog catchers and community gardens, this initiative utilizes recycled wood to create a compact, sustainable living environment that addresses the need for affordable housing in the Bay Area.
5 key facts about this project
01
Incorporates fog catchers to harvest moisture for irrigation.
02
Features community gardens to promote local food production.
03
Utilizes recycled wood for flooring and structural elements.
04
Includes multi-purpose rooms that adapt to various functions.
05
Located on Treasure Island, enhancing urban and ecological connectivity.

The tiny home community on Treasure Island is designed to meet the growing need for affordable housing in the Bay Area, located conveniently between San Francisco and Oakland. The project emphasizes efficient living spaces that encourage community engagement and sustainability. It combines essential residential areas within a compact layout, aiming to create a sense of belonging for its residents.

Functionality and Layout

The design incorporates a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, and a multi-purpose room into efficient living spaces. This layout maximizes the available area while ensuring that each room serves a specific function. Storage options are cleverly placed along walls and under beds, allowing the space to be organized and accessible without feeling cramped. The multi-purpose room can transform easily from a dining area to a place for relaxation or work.

Sustainability and Community Gardens

At the heart of the design is a focus on sustainability, which is evident in the inclusion of community gardens and an aquaponics system. This system encourages local food production and helps create a sustainable ecosystem by using fish waste to fertilize crops. Community gardens not only provide food but also foster social interaction, allowing residents to share responsibilities and build connections with one another.

Material Choices and Construction Elements

The materials chosen for construction prioritize environmental sustainability. Recycled wood serves as the primary flooring material, reinforcing the commitment to reducing waste. Additionally, PVC and cloth will be used for garden walls and fog catchers. These fog catchers are designed to capture moisture from the environment, which will be used in a recycled water system for irrigation. This process further supports the project's goal of sustainability.

Technological Integration and Energy Efficiency

The project also includes sun and wind turbines to enhance self-sufficiency. These renewable energy sources contribute to the overall energy needs of the community. By integrating technology that focuses on energy efficiency, the community does more than just provide housing; it supports a lifestyle that respects the environment and promotes responsible usage of resources.

Each home in the community is designed to connect with its surroundings, allowing residents to interact with nature and contribute to sustainable practices. The design encourages a lifestyle that values sustainable living while providing practical housing solutions. This community is not only intended to address the housing crisis but also to foster a shared sense of responsibility among its 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