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Unfired Bricks and Shipping Containers Create Flexible Living Solutions in Urban Madagascar

Authors:
Eboumbou Manu Akam Bell Koum Jemba, Mounira Hedaraly, David Herinavalona Randriamaromanana, Hery Lantomarosoa Randrianjatovo
Unfired Bricks and Shipping Containers Create Flexible Living Solutions in Urban Madagascar

Project in-detail

Constructed from unfired bricks and shipping containers, the design offers flexible, modular living solutions tailored for young adults in Madagascar's urban landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed with local unfired bricks to reduce environmental impact.
02
Utilizes shipping containers to enable rapid assembly and adaptability.
03
Incorporates thermal insulation panels for enhanced energy efficiency.
04
Features modular design allowing for flexible space arrangements.
05
Promotes community interaction through shared living areas.

### Project Overview

BITIKA Home is an architectural initiative located in Antananarivo, Madagascar, aimed at addressing the region's housing shortages while promoting sustainable living practices. Designed with the local socio-economic context in mind, the project targets a youthful demographic facing economic challenges and aims to provide affordable housing options conducive to communal living. The design incorporates local materials and traditions, ensuring both cultural resonance and adaptability in modern construction practices.

### Spatial Configuration and Functionality

The architectural concept of BITIKA Home revolves around modularity and flexibility, allowing for various configurations tailored to individual and communal needs. This adaptability encompasses multifunctional spaces that can serve diverse purposes, including areas designated for work, leisure, and essential utilities. Specific components of the design, such as the **BITIKA WORK** and **BITIKA EAT** spaces, encourage both productivity and community interaction, while the **BITIKA SLEEP** quarters address the necessity for privacy and innovative storage solutions. Such spatial strategies are essential as they allow residents to adjust their living environments in response to changing household dynamics over time.

### Material Selection and Sustainability

BITIKA Home emphasizes sustainable construction through the careful selection of materials that are both environmentally friendly and locally sourced. Key components include a galvanized steel frame, which provides structural stability, and QuadCore coldstore LEC panels, offering thermal efficiency. Unfired bricks and pine wood panels highlight local craftsmanship and reduce transport costs, while additional features such as a 2000-litre slimline water tank support self-sustainability. This strategic use of materials not only fosters a reduced environmental footprint but also enhances the living conditions for residents by integrating culturally significant resources into the design.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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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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