Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

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

Translucent ETFE Shelters with Water Recycling for Refugee Communities

Authors:
Rasha Bowirrat, Hanan Tanasra
Translucent ETFE Shelters with Water Recycling for Refugee Communities

Project in-detail

Utilizing ETFE for temperature control and integrating a water recycling system, these modular micro-homes provide sustainable living solutions for refugee communities.
5 key facts about this project
01
Utilizes inflatable ETFE cushions for energy efficiency.
02
Incorporates a water recycling system for sustainable living.
03
Modular design allows for flexible arrangements and configurations.
04
Features lightweight polycarbonate floor panels for easy transport.
05
Designed to promote community interaction among residents.

Pack It Up is designed to meet the urgent needs of refugees by providing modular micro-homes. These homes respond to the difficult living conditions many displaced people face. With a focus on functionality and community, each unit can be easily set up, taken down, and moved, adapting to various circumstances as needed.

Modular Design

The concept focuses on modular design, allowing every micro-home to stand alone while still encouraging neighborly connections. This flexibility means homes can be arranged in multiple patterns to create a community feel while ensuring each unit maintains its own privacy. The layout includes essential living spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms, work areas, and sleeping rooms that make the most of limited space.

Material Usage

Materials play a key role in the performance of these micro-homes. Using ETFE IR-Foil for inflatable cushions helps control temperature and block excessive sunlight. This creates a more comfortable environment for residents. Moreover, polycarbonate panels provide strength and reduce weight, making the homes easy to transport. Such choices reflect a balance between comfort and practicality.

Sustainability Features

Water management is integral to the design, with tanks for filtered and unfiltered water included in each unit. A recycling system, placed near the kitchen and bathroom, allows for efficient use of water resources. Filtered water can be used for irrigation and planting, which not only meets basic needs but encourages self-reliance. Rooftop solar panels contribute to energy needs, allowing the homes to operate without relying on conventional power sources.

Pack It Up aims to create living environments that not only provide shelter but also foster community connections. Each unit serves as a place for cultural exchange and social interaction, able to evolve with the needs of its residents. The design reflects a thoughtful approach to addressing the challenges faced by those in temporary housing.

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