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Terraced Community Living Focused on Redensification

Authors:
Lisa-maria Gross, Christina Gross
Terraced Community Living Focused on Redensification

Project in-detail

Utilizing redensification strategies, the design integrates a series of terraces to create communal living spaces in the heart of San Lorenzo, enhancing social interaction and fostering community engagement.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes redensification to fill urban voids in a historic neighborhood.
02
Features communal terraces that encourage resident interaction and accessibility.
03
Designed to accommodate a diverse population, including families and students.
04
Incorporates flexible layouts for multifunctional communal areas.
05
Focuses on sustainability and community engagement within the urban context.

The design focuses on creating affordable and communal living spaces in the central district of Rome, particularly in the San Lorenzo neighborhood. It seeks to address gaps in the urban landscape by using strategies that enhance the existing cityscape while promoting community interaction and engagement.

Conceptual Framework

A key idea behind the design is to fill in the empty spaces within the city to create flexible living environments. By applying methods such as stacking, addition, and redensification, the project responds to the growing need for affordable housing in urban areas. There is a strong focus on making these spaces accessible and encouraging interactions among residents, aiming to reshape how people relate to their surroundings.

Community Integration

Communal areas are a central aspect of the design, encouraging residents from different backgrounds—families, students, the elderly, and refugees—to engage with one another. Private flats are positioned around shared spaces, which promotes social interaction. This layout helps to nurture a sense of community and belonging among the inhabitants.

Program Elements

Important components of the communal spaces include a library, meditation area, working zones, storage spaces, children's areas, and kitchens. These facilities are carefully designed to balance private and shared experiences. By catering to the various needs of residents, the design seeks to improve overall living standards and offer a functional, inviting atmosphere.

Urban Context

Set within the historically significant San Lorenzo neighborhood, the design thoughtfully integrates into the local environment by addressing the urban voids along Via dei Sabelli. This effort aims to create a connected community where living, working, and recreational activities can thrive together. The focus on linking existing local amenities with new developments enhances the relevance of the design in its vibrant urban setting.

The façade features a series of terraces that provide outdoor spaces for communal use. This design detail fosters a connection between the residents and their surroundings, improving the livability of the architecture while encouraging social interaction.

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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

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