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Terraced Green Spaces with Secure Accessibility Ramp and Community Integration

Author:
Xavier Houston
Terraced Green Spaces with Secure Accessibility Ramp and Community Integration

Project in-detail

The design incorporates a terraced planting area and secure accessibility ramp to enhance pedestrian safety and mobility, all within a framework that emphasizes community interaction and affordable housing solutions.
5 key facts about this project
01
The design reclaims adjacent roadway space for park use.
02
A focus on clear sightlines enhances pedestrian safety.
03
The integrated tree line continues to foster biodiversity.
04
Drop-off traffic is directed in one efficient flow.
05
Secure bike and scooter parking promotes sustainable transport.

The design at 2340 San Jose Avenue in San Francisco aims to improve affordable housing within a busy urban area. By focusing on accessibility and safety, it addresses key challenges for residents and commuters. The concept involves rethinking the layout of public transit and pedestrian pathways, emphasizing a better experience for everyone who uses this space. This is an effort to create a community-oriented environment in a city known for its vibrant yet complex urban fabric.

Transit Relocation

The design includes the relocation of public transit to the median. This change aims to enhance visibility and access for transit users, supporting a more efficient flow of traffic. Widening the existing drop zone is also important. This adjustment will help manage passenger drop-offs and reduce congestion, particularly in this densely populated area.

Traffic Safety Enhancements

To improve safety for pedestrians at critical intersections, the design suggests cutting back the built-up site and a 6ft wall. This will create a terraced planting area that not only makes sightlines clearer for drivers and pedestrians but also adds greenery to the urban landscape. Enhancing safety while incorporating natural elements is an important part of the overall design vision.

Directional Traffic Management

Another significant feature is the plan to manage drop-off traffic in one direction at the intersection of Geneva and San Jose. This measure can help reduce congestion and make navigation easier for both drivers and passengers. Additionally, reclaiming an adjacent lane for park space supports the design's aim to integrate green areas into the city, encouraging community interaction.

Green Space Integration

There are secure entry points planned at accessible ramp locations, improving safety and access for everyone who uses them. The design also provides additional access for residents to parks and pedestrian crossings near BART. This focus on connectivity is essential in the city. Continuing the existing tree line with new plantings helps create a consistent look while promoting ecological benefits in the urban environment.

The final design aspect addresses modern mobility needs with secure parking for bikes, scooters, and electric vehicles. This thoughtful inclusion represents a commitment to accommodate diverse transportation methods. Each feature within this design works to support community engagement while attending to the practical needs of urban living.

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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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Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025
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