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Vertical Community Living with Colorful Terraces and Inward-Facing Streets

Author:
Iain Jamieson
Vertical Community Living with Colorful Terraces and Inward-Facing Streets

Project in-detail

Colorful terraces rise vertically in a community-oriented layout, creating inward-facing streets that encourage social interaction and address the housing needs of London’s diverse population.
5 key facts about this project
01
Colorful terraces enhance individuality among residences, promoting a vibrant community identity.
02
The inward-facing street design minimizes exterior disturbances and fosters social connections.
03
Vertical stacking of cul-de-sacs creates a unique high-density living configuration.
04
A variety of housing typologies accommodates diverse family sizes and needs.
05
Communal spaces promote interaction, encouraging an active neighborhood lifestyle.

Cul-De-Sacs in the Clouds is located along the Thames at the Greenwich Peninsula and aims to tackle the challenges of high-density living in London. It creatively combines elements of suburban design with the principles of vertical habitation. The overall concept focuses on creating a sense of community, promoting social interaction among residents, and responding to the evolving housing needs of the city.

Community-Centric Design

The design features stacked cul-de-sac layouts that encourage neighborly connections. Each residential unit is oriented toward communal spaces, enhancing visibility and promoting engagement. This configuration allows for casual encounters among residents, which can foster relationships and support a sense of belonging.

Inward-Facing Streets

Inward-facing streets form secure, enclosed areas that reduce the impact of external noise and disturbances. This design choice prioritizes safety and promotes social activities, resulting in spaces that feel inviting and intimate. It stands in contrast to traditional urban designs that often expose residents to busy main roads and their distractions.

Diverse Housing Typologies

The project includes a mix of housing types, from single-bedroom flats to larger family maisons. This variety caters to different household sizes and needs, creating an inclusive community. The use of colorful terrace houses aims to provide individuality and personality to the homes, moving away from the often-monotonous appearance of social housing in the region.

Accessible Integration

Accessibility is a key principle in the design. Vertical stacking allows for easy movement across various levels, with interconnected communal areas simplifying navigation. Multiple entry points enhance convenience and comfort, making it easier for residents to engage with outdoor spaces and each other.

Each home is designed to encourage interaction with its surroundings, featuring living areas and kitchens that overlook communal spaces. This approach strives to cultivate a lively atmosphere, enhancing daily life within the community.

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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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